Georgia vs Turkey
Georgia vs Turkey: procurement, logistics, tax & customs, industries — when to choose.
Comparison
| — | Georgia (Tbilisi) | Turkey (Istanbul) |
|---|---|---|
| VAT | 18% (0% for export) | 20% (export 0%) |
| Lead time | 5-8 days | 4-8 days |
| Free zone | yes (Tbilisi, Poti) | yes (many) |
| Trade access | DCFTA EU | EU Customs Union |
| Currency | GEL | TRY |
| Ports | Poti, Batumi (Black Sea) | Istanbul, Mersin, Izmir |
| Sourcing cost | low-medium | low (best for textile/apparel) |
| Logistics cost | low (sea + land) | low-medium |
| English level | medium-high | medium |
Procurement
Georgia: banking, tourism, wine, IT, logistics. Free zone: yes (Tbilisi, Poti). Min-order lead: low.
Turkey: textiles, automotive, electronics, food, tourism. Free zone: yes (many). Min-order lead: low.
Logistics
Georgia: Poti, Batumi (Black Sea). logistics cost: low (sea + land).
Turkey: Istanbul, Mersin, Izmir. logistics cost: low-medium.
Tax & customs
Georgia: VAT 18% (0% for export). Trade access: DCFTA EU.
Turkey: VAT 20% (export 0%). Trade access: EU Customs Union.
Industries
Georgia: banking, tourism, wine, IT, logistics.
Turkey: textiles, automotive, electronics, food, tourism.
When to choose
Choose Georgia if your priority is low-medium sourcing, Tbilisi hub access, and banking industry alignment. Choose Turkey if you need low sourcing with EU Customs Union trade access and low-medium logistics.
Verdict
Both regions are viable for B2B corporate merch sourcing. The deciding factor is rarely cost alone — it's customs/trade-bloc fit (EU vs GCC vs CIS), industry alignment, and lead-time tolerance. We can quote both and let you compare landed cost side-by-side.