Georgia’s car re-exports to Iran jump 1,000-fold

Georgia has sharply increased its re-exports of passenger vehicles to Iran, with volumes rising by a factor of 1,000 in the first half of 2026, according to the head of the Georgian Association of Auto Importers, Alexey Noniadze.

Speaking to bpn.ge, Noniadze said Georgia exported just five cars to Iran in the first six months of 2025. Over the same period in 2026, that figure climbed to 5,000 vehicles, marking a dramatic expansion in trade flows.

“As trade with Iran grows, Georgia and our industry may attract unwanted attention. There is a risk that we could even be subjected to sanctions. If Iran, for example, replaces Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and becomes [for Georgia] the number one country for re-exports, this could to some extent pose a threat to the country,” Noniadze said.

He noted that Georgian auto dealers had not initially targeted the Iranian market, adding that demand originated from Iran. Noniadze suggested the surge may reflect a shortage of vehicles in Iran, potentially linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the rapid growth, he cautioned that Iran is unlikely to represent a stable or reliable long-term market for Georgia’s re-export sector.

By Tamilla Hasanova