Russia's Foreign Trade Surplus Decreased by 3.36% in Jan-Apr 2026
Quick Look
- Russia's foreign trade surplus fell 3.36% YoY to $43.1 bln in Jan-Apr 2026.
- Exports rose to $135.4 bln, imports to $92.3 bln, increasing trade turnover by 4.83% to $227.7 bln.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Russia's foreign trade data for January-April 2026 indicates a decrease in its trade surplus compared to the previous year. This comes amidst shifts in trade partners, with a notable increase in trade with Asian countries and decreases with Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
MOSCOW, June 11. /TASS/. Russia's foreign trade surplus decreased by 3.36% year-on-year in January-April 2026 to $43.1 bln, according to data published by the Federal Customs Service (FCS) of Russia.
Exports during the reporting period increased by $4.5 bln to $135.4 bln, while imports rose by $6 bln to $92.3 bln. As a result, Russia's foreign trade turnover in January-April 2026 increased by 4.83% compared with the same period a year earlier, reaching $227.7 bln.
Foreign trade by country
According to the FCS, Russian exports to Europe fell by 11% to $18 bln, while imports increased by 6.8% to $23.8 bln. At the same time, Russia increased exports to Asian countries by 8.6% to $108 bln, while imports from those countries rose by 7.3% to $61.9 bln.
Exports to African countries declined by 11.5% to $6.1 bln, while imports fell by 5.2% to $1.5 bln.
Russian exports to North and South America decreased by 24% to $3.3 bln, while imports from those countries increased by 7.2% to $5.1 bln.
Export and import structure
Mineral products accounted for the largest share of Russian exports during the reporting period at $70.5 bln, down 6.3%. The second-largest export category was metals and metal products, exports of which increased by 31.2% to $26.9 bln. Agricultural products ranked third, rising by 21.6% to $14.7 bln.
Machinery, equipment, and transport vehicles remained Russia's largest import category. Imports in this segment increased by 7.2% in January-April to $44.5 bln. They were followed by chemical products, up 5.3% to $18.6 bln, and agricultural products, which rose by 7.4% to $14.2 bln.
Open Questions
- What specific factors contributed to the decline in exports to Europe, Africa, and the Americas?
- What are the primary drivers behind the increased imports of machinery, equipment, and transport vehicles?
- Will the trend of increasing trade with Asia continue?
- What is the impact of these trade shifts on Russia's overall economic stability?
