
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine profoundly impacted the global economy, immediately sending shockwaves across the globe. The attack of a country that was once a major energy supplier to Europe on the country which was one of the top food exporters in the world, sent food and fuel prices spiraling, causing major energy shortages and the prospect of protracted recession in the United States and the European Union.

In January 2023, the average cost of cooking one standard portion of Imeretian khachapuri increased annually – ranging between 6.88 GEL (Batumi) and 7.25 GEL (Telavi), with an average cost of 6.93 GEL. This latest average price is 19.7% higher than in January 2022.

In December 2022, the average cost of cooking one standard Imeretian khachapuri continued its upward trend and reached 6.99 GEL. The latest average price is 0.6% higher month-on-month (compared to November 2022) and 21.7% higher year-on-year (compared to December 2021).

Hazelnuts are one of the most important crops for Georgia in terms of export: between 2010-2021, they accounted for around 4.4% of total exports (GeoStat, 2022). In 2013, the quantity of exported hazelnuts reached its maximum level (30 ths. tons), in the following years, it then decreased to 19 ths. tons alongside an increase in value, thus indicating higher prices per exported kg of Georgian hazelnut.

Geostat has updated its estimates for the first three quarters of 2022, Q1 2022 growth rate now stands at 15%, while the annual growth rates for Q2 and Q3 slightly increased to 7.2% and 9.8%, respectively. The real GDP growth estimate for the first eleven months of 2022 is 10%.