TBILISI, February 9, 2004. (RIA NOVOSTI) - The year 2003 showed that Russia tops the list of Georgia's main trade partners, accounting for 15% of the country's total commodity turnover, the Georgian Statistics Department was quoted by the Novosti-Georgia agency.
Georgia's foreign commodity turnover totalled $1.5019 mln in 2003, with Russia's share of $225.4 mln, which is 23.7% more than in 2002.
CIS countries account for $573.4 mln, or 38.2%, thus exceeding the 2002 rates by 24.8%. At the same time former Soviet republics make up 23.4% of Georgia's negative balance of trade.
On the list of Georgia's main trade partners Russia is followed by Turkey /$186.3 mln, or 12.4%/, the UK /$166.4 mln - 11.1%/, Azerbaijan /$108.8 mln - 7.2%/, Ukraine /$107.8 mln - 7.2%/, Germany /$90.8 mln - 6%/ and the US /$67.6 mln - 4.5%/.
