Home
Beverage Manufacturing in Georgia

Beverage Manufacturing in Georgia

Georgia’s beverage manufacturing sector—encompassing fruit juices, mineral water, soft drinks, beer, and spirits—has emerged as a vibrant and promising industry with strong export potential. Dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the sector has seen impressive growth in recent years. From 2017 to 2023, total beverage exports grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10%, reaching USD 463 million in 2023.

This growth, however, has not been uniform across all markets. While total exports increased, the share of exports to the European Union (EU) declined significantly, posing a particular challenge for SMEs aiming to enter or maintain a foothold in EU markets.

Challenges to Competitiveness

Several structural challenges continue to limit the sector’s ability to scale and compete internationally:

Limited access to quality raw materials reduces product consistency and international appeal.
Outdated production equipment hampers efficiency and compliance with modern safety and quality standards.
A shortage of skilled labor in technical and production roles limits productivity and innovation.
Logistical and infrastructure constraints create bottlenecks in distribution and increase export costs.
Difficulty meeting EU standards and DCFTA regulations restricts access to high-value markets.
Limited financing options for export operations make it harder for SMEs to scale or modernize.

Opportunities for Strategic Investment and Support

Despite these obstacles, the beverage manufacturing sector in Georgia holds significant potential. Improving access to financing, upgrading production facilities, investing in workforce training, and supporting regulatory compliance can open the door to greater integration into EU and global markets.