In 2022, Turkey was the largest supplier to Georgia, shipping 4,500 tons of finished products to its eastern neighbor, or 21% of its total imports. Turkey was followed by Iran, which shipped 3,900 tons of lubricants to Georgia last year and held 18% of the import market.

Germany is the next largest supplier of lubricants to the country, last year shipping 2,400 tons of lubricants to Georgia, or 11% of its total imports. It was followed by Russia, which shipped 2,100 tons of finished lubricants to Georgia in 2022, holding 10% of the import market. The rest of the imports are from other countries.

During the year, the association publishes periodical data on the lubricants imported to Georgia.

For the first two months of 2023, the country imported almost 3,000 tons of finished products, up 1% from the same time last year. In January and February, Turkey was the largest supplier of lubes to Georgia, shipping 760 tons of finished products. It was followed by Iran, which shipped 540 tons, Germany at 340 tons and Russia, with 170 tons. The rest comes from other countries.

Georgia’s economy relies on the country’s developed Black Sea tourism, as well as its agriculture – cultivation of citrus fruits, tea and grapes – as well as mining and machinery production.

The boost in lubricant consumption last year in Georgia can be associated with the increased economic activity in the country. In 2022, it has seen an influx of hundreds of thousands of refugees from Russia, who fled the country to evade the mobilization wave ordered by the Russian leader Vladimir Putin in September for his war in Ukraine. According to official figures, more than 800,000 Russians entered Georgia, beginning March 2022, a couple of weeks after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, though the large majority of them have reportedly left.