Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in 2009 dropped 29.3% from a year earlier to USD 5.513 billion, according to the Georgian statistics office, Geostat.

The value of export was USD 1.135 billion, down by 24.1% and import was USD 4.378 billion, down by 30.6% from a year earlier. Trade deficit declined by 32.5% to USD 3.243 billion, against USD 4.56 billion in 2008.

Turkey remains the Georgia’s major trading partner with the trading volume slightly over USD 1 billion, which is 15.7% less than in 2008.

Although trade turnover with Azerbaijan declined to USD 544.4 million, against USD 813,2 million in 2008, it still remains Georgia’s second largest trading partner.

Ukraine comes third with USD 502.3 million, down from USD 791,8 million in 2008; followed by Germany – USD 324.4 million; Russia – USD 310.2 million; the United States – USD 263.6 million; Bulgaria – USD 235.1 million; China – USD 180.6 million; Italy – USD 150.9 million; Canada – USD 131.3 million.

Ferro-alloys remained the number one Georgian export, amounting USD 130 million; followed by semi-manufactured and unwrought gold – USD 116.1 million.

Oil products and hydrocarbons top the list of imports totaling USD 707.2 million; followed by vehicles – USD 254.7 million and medicines – USD 175.1 million.