When people think of Georgia, images often come to mind: the glittering night views of Tbilisi, the snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus, the affordable yet delightful wines, and the bay leaves that season 99% of Chinese kitchens.

But few know that when it comes to “eating chicken,” China and Georgia have mastered the art of cross-border complementarity—each supplying what the other needs.

Recently, the two countries signed a cooperation agreement. In plain terms: China helps feed Georgia’s “pecs,” while Georgia satisfies China’s “chicken feet freedom.”

How Chinese Chicken Became a “Lifesaver” for Georgia’s Fitness Enthusiasts

Georgians love meat, but local poultry production falls far short of demand. The numbers tell a clear story: locally produced poultry meets less than 30% of domestic needs, leaving 70% to be imported.

And when it comes to import sources, China is the undisputed “champion.”

In the first ten months of 2025 alone, Georgia imported over 20,000 tons of chicken from China, worth more than $34 million. What’s more interesting? Nearly all of it was frozen chicken breast.

Why chicken breast? Georgians have a strong preference for it: firm texture, boneless, high in protein—perfect for local dietary habits and a staple for fitness enthusiasts. Back in China, aside from the fitness crowd, most people aren’t particularly fond of dry-textured chicken breast.

One side has a surplus, the other has a pressing need—a perfect match.

In Tbilisi’s supermarket freezers, major local importers like West Invest, Izi, and Kakso mostly sell chicken breast from China. So, the protein many Georgians consume after their workouts likely traveled all the way from China.

Georgian Chicken Feet: A Burden Locally, a Treasure in China

If chicken breast is China’s “export advantage,” then chicken feet are Georgia’s “unexpected windfall.”

In Georgian cuisine, chicken feet, necks, and heads are considered “hard to eat, hard to handle” leftovers. For local farms, they were once a headache: you couldn’t just throw them away, but they served no purpose and cost money to dispose of.

But once they arrive in China, they transform into gold:

• Chicken feet→ pickled, braised, or crispy fried — the ultimate late-night snack
• Chicken necks & heads→ spicy, braised, or grilled — national favorites

What locals see as waste, the Chinese see as premium ingredients.

According to local industry estimates, Georgia collects around 120–150 tons of chicken feet and necks annually. The volume isn’t huge, but by exporting to China, what used to be waste now generates real revenue.

03 What Else Does Georgia Import from China?

China-Georgia trade complementarity goes far beyond “chicken breast for feet.” In 2025, China’s exports to Georgia reached $2.39 billion, a year-on-year increase of 20.7%. China has been Georgia’s largest import source for many consecutive years.

Main imports from China include:

 Machinery & Electronics

• Computers and accessories
• Communication equipment, TVs and parts
• Engineering machinery and industrial equipment

 Transportation Equipment & Parts

• Automobiles and components
• Tires (over $22 million in imports)

️ Building Materials & Metal Products

• Steel and metal products
• Construction and decoration materials
• Non-alloy steel flat-rolled products

Household & Consumer Goods

• Lighting equipment
• Furniture and home appliances
• Textiles, garments, footwear
• Daily necessities

 Emerging Sectors (Fastest Growing)

• New energy equipment (solar, energy storage)
• Digital economy products
• AI-related equipment

 Food & Agricultural Products (Bidirectional)

• China exports tea, spices, processed foods to Georgia
• Georgia exports wine, honey, mineral water to China

04 What Georgia Sends to China: More Than Feet and Wine

Georgia also exports a range of specialty products to China. In 2025, Georgia’s exports to China reached $310 million, up 11.1% year-on-year.

Main exports include:

• Wine – Georgia, the birthplace of wine, is gaining popularity in the Chinese market
• Honey – A bilateral agreement has been signed for honey exports
• Nuts and dried fruits
• Mineral water
• Copper ores and concentrates

Institutional Backing: How the Free Trade Agreement Accelerates China-Georgia Trade

The economic ties between China and Georgia are supported by strong institutional frameworks:

• 2018:The China-Georgia Free Trade Agreement took effect, making China Georgia’s first FTA partner in Eurasia, covering 95% of Georgian exports
• 2025:Both sides completed FTA upgrade negotiations to reduce non-tariff barriers, streamline inspection and quarantine procedures, and promote e-commerce cooperation
• 2025:Honey and poultry export agreements were signed, opening doors for more Georgian products to enter the Chinese market

The trade structure between the two countries continues to optimize, expanding from traditional infrastructure to new energy, high technology, agricultural products, and beyond.

Beyond Food: Where Else Does China-Georgia Trade Complement?

This cross-border “chicken-for-feet” cooperation is essentially a story of precise complementarity in lifestyles. No one compromises; no one feels shortchanged. Each side supplies what the other needs—a true win-win.

And this complementarity is precisely a microcosm of China-Georgia economic ties.

From chicken breast to wine, from machinery to new energy, trade between the two countries continues to heat up. In 2025, bilateral trade volume reached $2.7 billion, up 19.5% year-on-year. As a key node along the Belt and Road, Georgia is becoming a golden gateway for Chinese companies to enter the Caucasus and Eastern European markets.

Exhibition Empowerment: Direct Access to Georgia – Seize Opportunities in the Caucasus

As a professional exhibition organizer deeply rooted in the Belt and Road markets, Kaichen International Exhibition offers you an excellent platform to connect directly with Georgia and the Caucasus region:

The 8th Smart Life Expo Georgia
September 26-28, 2026
Tbilisi International Exhibition Center

Why Exhibit?

• Precise Matchmaking: Direct access to importers and distributors from Georgia and neighboring countries
• Market Insights: Deep understanding of consumer demand and purchasing habits in the Caucasus region
• Brand Expansion: Seize Georgia’s strategic position as a Eurasian gateway

Bridging the Distance: Putting the Best on Each Other’s Tables

Someday, as you nibble on braised chicken feet at home, that very chicken might have basked in the sun beneath the Caucasus mountains and breathed the evening breeze of Tbilisi.

If you ever travel to Georgia and pick up a pack of chicken breast at a supermarket, chances are it came “from home.”

And in China, stewing Georgian chicken feet with Georgian bay leaves might just be the perfect pairing.

Crossing mountains and seas, putting the flavors each side loves best on the other’s table—that’s the truest, most satisfying kind of win-win.