12.09.2026 Trade & Markets #Russia #Import #Export #Statistics
Russia's trade surplus climbs 13.3% to $89.2 billion in January–July
Russia's Federal Customs Service released foreign trade data for January–July 2026 on September 10, 2026: turnover reached $437.6 billion, up roughly 12.3% year on year (Vedomosti; customsonline.ru). Exports rose 12.4% to $263.4 billion, while imports grew 12% to $174.2 billion. The gap between the two — the trade surplus — expanded 13.3% to $89.2 billion.
What is driving exports
Mineral products remain the backbone of exports at $146.9 billion (+11.4%), accounting for over half of the total. The fastest value growth came from metals and metal products, up 21.2% to $48.1 billion, and from food and agricultural raw materials, up 24.9% to $25.7 billion. Against this backdrop, machinery and equipment exports fell 5.8% to $14.2 billion, while timber exports dropped 4% to $5.9 billion.
Trade flows keep tilting toward Asia
Asia accounted for $210.4 billion of exports (+16.9%) and $118.8 billion of imports (+15%) — roughly 80% of total exports and about 68% of total imports.
| Region | Exports, $bn | Change | Imports, $bn | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia | 210.4 | +16.9% | 118.8 | +15% |
| Europe | 33.5 | −3.7% | 43.5 | +7.7% |
| Africa | 12.5 | +5.6% | 2.6 | −6.4% |
| Americas | 6.8 | −10% | 9.2 | +2% |
Europe's export share continued to shrink (−3.7%) even as its shipments into Russia grew (+7.7%). Trade with the Americas remained far smaller: exports to Asia were about 31 times higher than exports to the Americas, and imports from Asia were about 13 times higher than imports from the Americas.
What this means for traders
Machinery, equipment and transport vehicles dominate imports at $84.7 billion (+14.5%), close to half of all inbound goods. Chemical products rose 10.8% to $35 billion, and food imports grew 5.1% to $25.7 billion. The sharpest relative increase came from mineral products, up 71.5% to $3.9 billion, though the category remains small in absolute terms.
Primary sources
- Профицит внешней торговли России в январе – июле вырос на 13,3%
- Итоги внешней торговли Российской Федерации в январе-июле 2026 года
This material is for information only and does not constitute legal advice or customs consulting. Verify changes against the primary sources before acting.