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Russia's foreign trade surplus contracted sharply in the first three quarters of this year, falling 11% from the same period last year to $101.7 billion, according to new government data.
The Russian Federal Customs Service released figures Monday showing exports dropped $14.7 billion to $302.8 billion between January and September, while imports declined by a smaller margin of $2.1 billion to $201.1 billion.
The data reveals a widening gap between Russia's trade performance with Europe and Asia. Exports to European countries fell 15.75% to $42.2 billion during the period, with imports from Europe down 5% to $51.5 billion.
Trade with Asian nations showed more resilience but still declined. Exports to the region slipped 1.9% to $235.1 billion, while imports edged down 0.9% to $134.3 billion.
Minerals and mineral products remained Russia's dominant export category at $168.7 billion, underscoring the country's continued reliance on natural resources for foreign revenue. On the import side, machinery, equipment and vehicles topped the list at $96.7 billion.
The decline marks a reversal from last year, when Russia's foreign trade surplus grew 0.82% compared to 2023, reaching $122.6 billion for the full year.
The customs service data provides insight into how Russia's trade relationships have evolved amid ongoing international economic pressures, with Asian markets playing an increasingly important role even as European trade continues to contract.
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