Georgia Sets Export Record With Trade Tumult on the Horizon 

Georgia set a fourth-straight annual record for exports, eclipsing the $50 billion mark for the first time, and grew its imports substantively in 2024 as the trade landscape veered toward a period of uncertainty. 

If President Donald Trump gets his way, integration with global trading partners could become more costly in 2025 due to tariff hikes in the U.S. and retaliatory measures, even from some of the country’s closest trading partners. 

Total Georgia trade — the sum of imports and exports — hit $198.7 billion, an increase of 6.4 percent. That means Georgia imported $145.6 billion in goods, continuing with a lopsided trade deficit mirroring that of the U.S., which Mr. Trump views as a fairness issue and is proposing to remedy with a reciprocal tariff plan unveiled earlier this week.

That could be a tall order if the Georgia numbers are any indication: the state’s imports have grown a whopping 60 percent from $91.2 billion in 2017, the first year of Mr. Trump’s initial term, when he kick-started a trade war that raised tariffs on Chinese goods. President Biden largely continued with the policy with regard to China but backed off Europe and other partners.

Strong Export Growth Amid Trump Tariff Threats

On the export front, Georgia’s sales internationally also grew 6.4 percent from the previous year to hit $53.1 billion, with North American partners Canada ($7.4 billion in sales of Georgia goods) and Mexico ($6.3 billion) topping the list and combining for about a quarter of the total. 

China was No. 3 at $3 billion (dropping 25 percent) followed by the Netherlands, a new entry to the top five at No. 4 ($2.5 billion) driven by an uptick in the sale of computers and communications equipment, and Germany fifth ($2.4 billion). 

A close reading of the numbers shows that Georgia would be highly exposed in the event of a trade war, particularly in North America. 

Canada and Mexico have been given a 30-day reprieve from the 25 percent blanket Trump tariff threatened earlier this month. But just days after that, the president slapped another 25 percent on steel and aluminum, crucial inputs for the auto sector, without exemptions for USMCA partners. This week, he said new tariffs on foreign-made cars are coming April 2. 

China, meanwhile, was hit with a 10 percent levy in early February, then retaliated against some sectors where Georgia is strong, like motor vehicles, its No. 2 export product accounting for $2.4 billion in worldwide sales, according to the state’s report.  

Shifting Trade Patterns

Already, Georgia’s numbers show signs of shifting trade patterns, some of which began under the first Trump administration. 

As it has at the national level, Mexico became the state’s top overall trading partner for the first time in 2024 and surpassed China as the No. 1 sourcing market for imports at $18.6 billion. Imports from China were flat at $17.2 billion, staying where they had fallen from a peak of nearly $25 billion in 2022. South Korea fell to No. 3 but grew 12 percent to $16.6 billion in imports, driven by cars and auto parts, presumably to fuel the Kia and Hyundai production plants in Georgia. Germany was No. 4 at $11.8 billion, largely driven by cars that would be hammered by Trump’s planned April tariffs. 

At least in the case of Georgia, imports from China seem to have been replaced by Mexico and alternate partners in Asia. 

Vietnamese imports into Georgia grew about 10 percent to $6.7 billion in 2024, staying elevated along with imports from Thailand (up 6 percent to $5.5 billion), and India (up 9 percent to $4.7 billion). Less than 10 years ago, only India registered in the top 10 import partners for Georgia. Now the above countries are Nos. 5, 8 and 9 respectively. 

Georgia Resources

Gov. Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Economic Development used the occasion to highlight efforts to help small businesses from all over the state find customers in some 219 countries and territories. 

“With more than 87 percent of Georgia exporters being small businesses, these record-breaking numbers represent economic opportunity and success in every corner of the state,” Mr. Kemp said in a release, noting that the state’s export growth rate outpaced the nation. Georgia also moved up to No. 6 in terms of dollar value of trade, though it sits at No. 12 in exports overall by that metric.

Deputy Commissioner of Trade Lizann Grupalo pointed to the state’s network of international trade representatives in 12 markets representing 83 percent of the state’s total trade and 66 percent of exports. 

“Georgia’s international representatives are a key link to global markets, providing on-the-ground insights to navigate an ever-changing global environment,” Ms. Grupalo said. “Their contributions allow our Georgia-based team members to serve Georgia’s small business exporters who otherwise may not have access to this information and opportunities.”

Georgia’s Top Export Destinations (in billions):

1. Canada	$7.4 billion
2. Mexico	$6.4
3. China	$3.0
4. Netherlands	$2,6
5. Germany	$2.5
6. Singapore	$2.4
7. Japan	$1.6
8. United Kingdom	$1.4
9. United Arab Emirates	$1.4
10. Poland	$1.3

Top Import Partners (in billions):

1. Mexico	$18.6 billion
2. China	$17.2
3. South Korea	$16.6
4. Germany	$11.8
5. Vietnam	$6.7
6. Japan	$6.7
7. Canada	$6.5
8. Thailand	$5.5
9. India	$4.7
10. United Kingdom	$4.2

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Trade Stats Express

Georgia’s Full Trade Report:

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