13.07.2026 Analytics #Russia #Import #Export #Statistics
Russia's trade turnover hits $227.7bn as imports outpace exports
Russia's Federal Customs Service (FCS) has released foreign trade statistics for January–April 2026: total trade turnover grew 4.83% to $227.7bn, according to data compiled by Alta-Soft and published on July 13, 2026. Exports rose by $4.5bn to $135.4bn, while imports climbed even further — by $6bn — to $92.3bn. As a result, the trade surplus contracted 3.36%, to $43.1bn.
Imports growing faster than exports
The defining trend of the reporting period is import growth outpacing exports. In absolute terms, imports added $6bn against $4.5bn for exports, narrowing the trade surplus. For trade participants, this points to stronger domestic demand for imported goods alongside a slower recovery in export revenue — a factor worth weighing when planning currency flows and logistics budgets.
Asia consolidates its role as Russia's main trading partner
The regional breakdown confirms a persistent multi-year shift: Asia is becoming the dominant direction for both sales and purchases. Exports to Asia rose 8.6% to $108bn, while imports from Asia grew 7.3% to $61.9bn. Europe is moving in the opposite direction: exports there fell 11% to $18bn, while imports from Europe actually rose 6.8% to $23.8bn — meaning Europe remains a significant supplier but is losing ground as an export market.
The American direction saw an even sharper decline: exports to the Americas dropped 24% to $3.3bn. African exports also fell, down 11.5% to $6.1bn.
Metals and agricultural exports rise despite a weaker commodity sector
In the export structure, mineral products — traditionally the largest category — declined 6.3% to $70.5bn. Against this backdrop, two groups stand out: exports of metals and metal products jumped 31.2% to $26.9bn, while agricultural and food exports grew 21.6% to $14.7bn. For non-commodity exporters, particularly in metallurgy and agribusiness, this signals expanding foreign demand and room to scale up shipments in these categories.
What it means for importers
Machinery and equipment lead the import structure, up 7.2% to $44.5bn and remaining the largest import category. Chemical products grew 5.3% to $18.6bn, and agricultural imports rose 7.4% to $14.2bn. Growth across all three largest import categories confirms recovering domestic demand for equipment, components and industrial inputs — while imports outgrowing exports means companies working with foreign suppliers face tighter competition for foreign-currency liquidity.
The data covers January–April 2026; the FCS's next monthly statistical release is expected in a similar format.
Primary sources
This material is for information only and does not constitute legal advice or customs consulting. Verify changes against the primary sources before acting.