Russia-ASEAN trade in 2025 showed significant growth, with trade up over 30% by August, focusing on energy, agriculture, digital tech and nuclear power, while the ASEAN countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – sought diversified partners and access to Russian goods like components and resources, utilizing non-dollar payments amidst sanctions, with new cooperation plans for 2026-2035 being finalized. Discover trade agreements, investment flows, and business strategies for entering Southeast Asia’s dynamic markets from Russia, and vice-versa.
Russia and Vietnam are considering the construction of new Gepard-class Frigates for the Vietnamese Navy, with the vessels likely to be built in Vietnamese shipyards under Russian enegineering supervision.
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has invited the Russian President, Vladimir Putin to Vietnam to attend the 2026 APEC conference, the second senior ASEAN official to extend invitations in the past three days. APEC is attended by 21 countries leaders – including the United States.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to the Philippines in November to attend the annual ASEAN summit. Philippines President Marcos extended the invitation following the success of the Russia-ASEAN summit which has just concluded in Moscow. Bilateral trade ties are relatively small at present but a Putin visit is likely to accelerate these ties.
Russia’s agricultural exports to ASEAN are up 5% in the first five months of 2026, with Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia showing the largest increases.
Direct flights between Kazan and Malaysia are being discussed at senior Ministerial levels by both countries. Visa-free access for visitors from both Russia and Malaysia is expected to be in place later this year.
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The Russia-ASEAN annual summit is currently taking place in Kazan amongst huge geopolitical changes in Eurasia. We discuss what these mean and provide a detailed overview of Russia’s trade with ASEAN – including with nine of its member countries. It is essential reading for anyone involved in Southeast Asian trade and investment.
The Russia-Laos Intergovernmental Commission has been meeting in Moscow, with important agreements on expanding trade, and nuclear power deals being signed. Bilateral trade, while small, nearly doubled last year.
Our deep-dive analysis into the results of SPIEF 2026 – the signed agreements, investment deals, Russian corporate finance, multilateralism and agreed projects, including China, India, ASEAN, Middle East, African and LatAm investment plans.
Russia and Indonesia have agreed a far reaching maritime strategy that will see joint investment into Indonesian shipyards, ports and fishing capacity. Both sides have recently signed a Free Trade Agreement with a focus on maritime development being a key initial part of this strategic alliance. Bilateral trade can be expected to boom.
India has agreed to sell the Russian Joint Venture, India manufactured Brahmos missiles to Vietnam in a US$600 million plus agreement, with similar deals also lined up with Indonesia.
The Russian and Philippines foreign ministers have discussed ASEAN, bilateral trade, energy, and related issues as both countries’ markets begin to open up to each other.
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