Analysts Eastfruit note that, along with table potatoes, the export of seed potatoes from Georgia is also breaking records. Unfortunately, as with table potatoes, the success of seed potatoes is also viewed as a one-time opportunity rather than a systemic trade development.
Data source: Ministry of Finance of Georgia
According to official statistics, in January 2022, Georgia exported 670 tons of seed potatoes, which is quite an unusual figure - the average for the previous 7 years in January was only 70 tons. From August 2021 to January 2022, Georgia exported a record amount of seed potatoes - 2900 tons. Over the past 7 years, the average export for this window is only 420 tons.
Virtually all of the seed potatoes from the current surge in exports have gone to Azerbaijan, which is a regular destination for Georgian seed potatoes. The sudden increase in exports of seed potatoes from Georgia is due to bad potato season in Russia, which is a key supplier of seed potatoes to Azerbaijan. Georgian farmers are not seeing any major changes in the supply chain or new links that could make exporting large volumes of seed potatoes a regular occurrence.