Russia’s trade and investment into the Middle East is rapidly developing, with relations both through the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League all helping boost bilateral trade by 25% during 2025. Partially driven by the developments along the INSTC, and new regional free trade agreements, we provide analysis of the growing Russia-Middle East economic partnership. Discover trade statistics, investment flows from the GCC, and business opportunities for companies in both regions.
Russia’s exports of beef to Turkiye have reached 400 tonnes in H1 2026, in the first data since Russia was permitted to export the meat last year. The next step is to allow Russian exporters direct market access. Beef is used in numerous Turkish dishes including kebabs as well as stews. Per capita consumption is about 20kg per annum.
The annual TNF Energy forum has concluded in Tyumen, featuring significant energy participation involving China, ASEAN, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The event laid out Russia’s energy dynamics, exports and infrastructure build with oil and gas companies, equipment manufacturers, oilfield-service providers, technology developers, universities, government institutions and foreign energy partners. We assess the likely impact and global energy flows. This article is essential reading for anyone interested in Russia’s global energy development.
The Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation have agreed a Joint Action Plan to cover the period 2027-2030. This covers important trade development areas including digitalization, information and communication technologies, customs regulation, agro-industry, food security, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, consumer protection, green-economy issues and information exchange. We deep dive the contents to explain exactly what this means and the impact on EAEU and SCO members.
Russia’s trade with the Global South and ‘friendly’ countries now accounts for 85% of its total, reaching about US$299 billion in H1 2026. The West provides just 15% of Russia’s economic trade and continues to decline. We examine the main Global South trade partners in all regions, and provide the latest H1 2026 trade data. There are some surprising results for those who assume Russia only trades oil with China and India. The non-energy sector on a worldwide basis is increasingly dominant as Global South trade volumes continue a Russian growth trajectory.
Saudi Arabia has increased the number of approved Russian milk producers to 26 following increasing demand for quality dairy products. The Saudi dairy market is growing as consumers look for healthy lifestyles and has an expected CAGR annual growth rate of 4% between 2026 and 2034. Russia is the world’s fourth largest producer of dairy products.
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The WorldFood and Russian Sea Food Expos have been taking place in Moscow and St. Petersburg with significant trade delegations attending from China, India, ASEAN, Brazil, Egypt and the Middle East as well as most of the Global South nations. We discuss in considerable detail how Russia’s agricultural trade is interacting with these international markets in both exports and imports, within an industrial sector whose output is measured in the trillions of dollars.
Iran is hoping to quadruple its fish exports to Russia. The country has a free trade agreement with Russia and is a major exporter of prawns and rainbow trout. Iran exports fish and seafood to 67 countries worldwide despite sanctions, with Russia the third largest importer after Iraq and China.
Russian Railways (RZD) has announced they are looking at new development markets in friendly countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America. The company already has numerous international projects and is looking to develop more to feed Russia’s global trade expansion plans.
Russia’s largest Oil Services company, Burservice, previously part of Halliburton, has extensive plans to establish operations in ‘friendly’ countries throughout Africa and Asia. Since Halliburton exited Russia in 2022, Burservice have made record profits and continue to expand.
The (BRICS) New Development Bank has been given a new strategic focus with its New Investment Platform giving it a far more significant role in trade development and investment. This has flown somewhat under the radar and been little commented on – however the implications are substantial. It will significantly improve BRICS trade and investment as well as change global trade flows. We explain the NDB’s New Investment Platform, what it includes, how it works and the impact on project financing and future trade.
The BRICS 2026 Summit in New Delhi has concluded, resulting in a unanimous, 100 point ‘Delhi Declaration’, and over 50 planned initiatives. With BRICS now responsible for nearly 40% of global GDP and 25% of global exports, what these documents contain matters. We deep dive the results and provide analysis of what BRICS 2026 achieved, the development path ahead and the implications for global trade.
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