Russia’s total trade reached about US$745 billion during 2025, also showcasing a significant, albeit shifting, trade surplus of about US$120 billion. In this section we cover all news concerning Russian trade developments, with Russian exporters increasingly reaching out into new markets on a global basis as it pivots away from the West. This is the definitive source on Russian trade. Get the latest data, analysis, and news on Russia’s import/export activities, trade agreements, and increasing commercial partnerships with the Global South.
Russia’s President Putin begins a State Visit to China today, just four days after US President Donald Trump did the same. We look at the different approaches between the US and Russian delegations, and provide a detailed overview of Russia-China economic development and trade ties – and what can be expected.
Russia is to expand its Islamic Finance services sector based on the Bahrain model. Several Russian republics have significant Muslim populations, while the aim is also to attract Sharia-compliant inbound foreign investment into the Russian economy.
The BRICS Foreign Ministers have been meeting in New Delhi in arguably a more important event than Trump’s visit to China. We explore how Russia and India are remapping the Global South and are creating new energy supply chains, security alliances and trade corridors in mechanisms that will reshape international trade.
Russian and Indonesian officials have met in Kazan to discuss energy shortages in the Global South, in addition to bilateral trade developments. Indonesia is ASEAN’s largest economy, a full member of BRICS and has a Free Trade Agreement with Russia via the Eurasian Economic Union.
Russian and Malaysian officials have met at the Islamic World Forum being held in Kazan. Russia’s agricultural exports are up 37% in January-April 2026 as the two sides discuss additional trade development.
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Russia and Tanzania are negotiating a bilateral investment treaty to help underpin their mutual trade, which grew by 20% in 2025.
A specialist Russian company, the world’s largest Titanium producer, is to supply titanium pipes for Egypt’s El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, which is currently being built by Rosatom. The plant will be cooled using seawater – Titanium is non-corrosive under such conditions.
The Presidents of Russia and Turkmenistan have held bilateral discussions concerning the strengthening of the strategic partnership and cooperation in the trade, economic sectors. This is almost certainly have involved the position as concerns Iran, with both Russia and Turkmenistan fellow Caspian states and able to assist Iran develop its northern coastline and logistics away from problems to the south and the Strait of Hormuz.
Russia and Kazakhstan geologists have discovered what is likely to be the world’s largest deposit of rare earths, in Kazakhstan’s South Irgiz region. According to scientific estimates, rare earth metal resources at the cluster exceed 20 million tonnes. Rare earths are essential ingredients in numerous global hi-tech applications, with the largest deposits thus found being from China, Brazil, India, Australia, Russia and now Kazakhstan.
Russian imports of Azerbaijani fruit increased by 17.8% in 2025, while Russian exports of livestock also increased by 1.6 times in complimentary trade flows. Both Azerbaijan and Russia are memebrs of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Russia’s bilateral trade has increased 2.6 times in 2M 2026, meaning it may exceed US$1 billion for the first time. Both imports from Afghanistan and exports to the country have both shown increases.
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