AI-generated summary
The EU has imposed sanctions on Russia, but provides exceptions for certain sectors such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology and agricultural products on humanitarian grounds. Companies use these exceptions to continue doing business in Russia.
The export of pharmaceutical products from Germany to Russia reached a new high in the first half of 2026. Compared to the comparable period in 2025, the corresponding exports increased by around 18 percent to around 1.5 billion euros. This is shown by export data from the Federal Statistical Office, which WELT AM SONNTAG evaluated.
Overall, exports from Germany to Russia fell by 2.9 percent in the first half of 2026 compared to the comparable period in 2025. In addition to the pharmaceutical sector, exports of agricultural equipment and prostheses also increased.
In the first six months of this year, German agricultural machinery and equipment worth around 89 million euros were brought to Russia. In the same period last year, this value was around 61 million euros. Exports of prostheses rose by almost 19 percent in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year to around 112 million euros. In no first half of the year since 2020 has the value of exports of prostheses been as high as in the first six months of this year.
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For humanitarian reasons, the EU sanctions provide for extensive exceptions for pharmaceuticals, medical technology products such as prostheses and the agricultural sector. Pharmaceutical industry giant Bayer justifies its remaining business in Russia with these humanitarian reasons; only “essential products” are sold.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Exports of pharmaceutical products from Germany to Russia will remain at a high level in the second half of 2026 as long as the humanitarian exceptions to the EU sanctions remain in place.
Likely · Within months
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