MOSCOW, April 7 There are no Western countries left among Russia’s main trading partners: Germany has dropped out of the top five, as follows from an analysis of data from national statistical services.
At the end of 2023, Germany, with a trade turnover of $12.2 billion, entered only the second five.
According to the Federal Customs Service, Russia's trade turnover last year amounted to $710.1 billion. Of these, 51 percent came from Asian countries, 23 percent from European countries, and 11 percent from the Middle East. Another eight percent goes to neighboring countries, four percent goes to American countries, and three percent goes to Africa.
China remained the leader with a record trade turnover of $240.1 billion. India rose to second place from fifth thanks to a 1.8-fold increase in trade with Russia to $64.9 billion. Türkiye closes the top three with $56.5 billion.
Belarus is in fourth place, with trade turnover amounting to about $55 billion. Kazakhstan moved up to fifth place from eighth with $26 billion. These five countries account for 60 percent of Russia's total trade turnover in 2023.
The second five, in addition to Germany, now includes South Korea with a trade turnover of $15 billion. The UAE, with which Russian trade could grow to 12.1 billion (based on data for nine months), became eighth, while a year ago they were 16th. Brazil ($11.3 billion) rose to ninth place from 17th a year earlier, and the Netherlands, on the contrary, lost four positions and dropped to tenth place ($9.9 billion).
In a regional context, Russia's largest foreign trade partners in Asia, in addition to China, India and South Korea, there were Japan ($9.7 billion) and Hong Kong ($5.9 billion). Among neighboring countries in Asia, the most active trade was with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan ($9.9 billion) and Armenia ($7.3 billion).
In Africa, Egypt was the undisputed leader, trade turnover with which increased by 40 percent — to $5.5 billion.
In the Middle East, Russia is a major partner in addition to Turkey and the UAE, there were Iran (four billion dollars) and Saudi Arabia, with which trade increased one and a half times — to 3.3 billion dollars.
In South and North America, in addition to Brazil, significant trade volumes were with the United States ($5.5 billion), Mexico ($2.2 billion) and Ecuador ($1.1 billion).