BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.12
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
In January 2021, imports of dairy products reached one of the lowest levels in recent years for Georgia, Trend reports via Georgian media.
Monthly imports were 5.5 million liters of raw milk equivalent - imports have not been that low since January 2015. The fall in external demand affected not only dairy products.
The price of imported dairy products continues to grow in lari. The import price of 1 liter of raw milk in equivalent amounted to 1.69 lari. The dollar price was $0.51, which is one of the highest prices in recent years. The rise in prices has certainly led to a decrease in imports, although the main reason is weak demand, which is not limited to the dairy sector.
The National Bank of Georgia notes that amid the coronavirus pandemic and related difficulties, overall external demand has significantly weakened. As a result, in January 2021, Georgia's total imports will be one of the lowest in recent years.
The prices of imported dairy products may rise even more. According to the USDA International Market Outlook for February 1-5, the demand for various goods is quite active. Particularly noteworthy is butter, which is now the main imported dairy product in Georgia. The USDA says butter prices are rising in major producing countries and are expected to rise even more in the coming months.
As for the export of dairy products, it is possible that the recent fall in the lari exchange rate gave an additional impetus to the export of cheese - the upward trend continues. In January, Georgia exported $60,000 worth of cheese, which is a record figure and 6 times more than in January last year. The average price per kilogram was $9.
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