Georgia hazelnut exports drop 57% in H1 2017
TBILISI. July 24 (Interfax) - Georgia, one of the world's biggest producers of hazelnuts, exported 4,900 tonnes in H1 2017, 57% less than in the same period last year, National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) told Interfax.
Revenue from the hazelnut exports also fell 57% to $29.9 million or 2.4% of total exports (down from 7.4% in H1 2016), dropping hazelnuts to 10th place among Georgian export products, from fourth place a year ago.
Europe and the CIS, including Russia, are the main markets for Georgia's hazelnut exports. Russia imported 1,000 tonnes in the six months, up from 644 tonnes in H1 2016.
Georgia exported 27,100 tonnes of hazelnuts in 2016, 39.1% more than in 2015, although revenue from the exports rose just 1.3% to $178.9 million (8.5% of all exports last year). Hazelnut exports to Russia were up 6.8% to 1,500 tonnes worth $9.5 million, down 11.2%.
Georgia is the fourth biggest hazelnut producer in the world after Turkey, Italy and the U.S. It produced 33,100 tonnes in 2016, 19% less than in 2015.
