Trade News & Analysis

Trade

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.

Featured February 24, 2026

India Extends Russian Maritime Insurance Accreditation 

The Indian shipping regulator has extended the accreditation of four Russian companies providing Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance for vessels calling at the country’s ports for one month, according to the Indian Directorate General of Shipping. Russian insurers Soglasie, Yugoria, Sberbank Insurance, and ASTK Insurance have all had their insurance licenses extended to 20 March […]

Read full article →
Featured February 24, 2026

Russia and Belarus Plan To Introduce Cross-Border Suburban Rail Services

Russia and Belarus are planning to launch cross-border suburban trains, which will operate on the basis of free movement within the Eurasian Economic Union, according to Alexander Khoroshevich, First Deputy Head of the Belarusian Railways. Citizens of both countries and foreigners holding residence visas of either may use the cross-border service without needing to pass […]

Read full article →
February 23, 2026

Proposals Made To Convert All of Siberia Into A Unified Special Economic Zone 

The creation of a unified Special Economic Zone (SEZ) covering the entire Siberian Federal District, with common tax and investment preferences for each region within it, could become a driver for Siberian development, according to Elena Bezdenezhnykh, the vice president of JSC Rusal Management. She said that “We have 59 SEZs in the country. The […]

Read more →
February 23, 2026

First Cryptocurrency Transactions Could Be Made In Russia During 2026

The first cryptocurrency transactions could be conducted in normal Russian domestic transactions by the end of this year if the corresponding law is passed, according to Ekaterina Lozgacheva, the head of the Central Bank of Russia’s financial market strategic development department. She said that “We expect that in the near future, when the draft bill […]

Read more →
February 23, 2026

Russian Polymer Manufacturer To Set Up Production in Kazakhstan

The Russian company MK-Polymer , a resident company of the Seversk development territory in the Tomsk Region, supplied a batch of ethylene-propylene rubber to Kazenergokabel, the largest cable factory in Kazakhstan, and conducted operational tests on it, the company said. The joint work was aimed at testing the use of new materials in cable production. […]

Read more →

Stay Ahead of Global Developments

Subscribe to receive exclusive insights and analysis on Trade.

February 21, 2026

Russia’s New Entrepreneurs—Expanding Into Central Asia

Part Two of a Seven-Part Series in which we document the rise of the new outbound Russian entrepreneurial investor. From 2022 onward, Russia’s entrepreneurs and companies have been reshaping their foreign economic engagements in response to geopolitical realignments. As Western sanctions constrained access to traditional Western markets, Russia’s business community began to seek deeper footholds […]

Read more →
February 20, 2026

FESCO Transports Record Volumes Of Railway Containers & Goods From Asia

Russia’s FESCO transportation group has achieved a new weekly record volume of railway container transport from the Vladivostok Commercial Sea Port. From 9 to 15 February, 6,767 TEU were sent from VMTP as part of 45 container trains. This is 62 TEU more than the previous weekly maximum achieved in August 2024. FESCO stated that […]

Read more →
February 20, 2026

Russia’s FESCO Launches Maritime Shipping Route To Cambodia

Russia’s FESCO Transport Group has launched container shipping between Cambodia and Russia as part of expanding its maritime services, the company has said. Cambodia is in Southeast Asia and a member of the ASEAN trade bloc. It is also in the process of negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which […]

Read more →
February 20, 2026

Russia-Madagascar Bilateral Relations – February 2026 Update

Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with Madagascar’s interim president, Michael Randrianirina, in Moscow. Putin noted that the two countries have many promising areas of cooperation, including agriculture, geological exploration, energy, medicine, healthcare, and education, saying that “Many students from Madagascar have already received higher education in Russia and are highly qualified.” President Randrianirina emphasized […]

Read more →
February 19, 2026

Joint Russia-Iran Ship Repair Facilities Being Planned In Astrakhan

A delegation from Iran’s IRISL Shipping Line has been visiting Russia’s Astrakhan region, with meetings held to discuss developing cooperation in shipbuilding and ship repair. The discussions included the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Energy of the Astrakhan region, Vitaly Shchepin; the Deputy Minister of External Relations of the Astrakhan region, Ilya Toropitsyn; the Director […]

Read more →
February 19, 2026

Two More EU Companies Relocate To Russia

Two more companies, Perpecia and Gekolina Investments, have relocated from Cyprus to the Oktyabrsky Island SAR in Kaliningrad. Perpecia is 100% owned by Adorabella LLC, and Gekolina Investments Limited is 100% owned by Chlodwig Enterprises LLC. Both of these companies had previously redomiciled from Switzerland to the Oktyabrsky Island SAR in 2023. They are subsidiaries […]

Read more →