Sharing land and maritime borders with more countries than any other nation, the Russian Federation imported US$231.7 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020, down by -5% from $243.8 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Russia’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Russian imports during 2020 for each of Russia’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for about two-thirds (66.2%) of total Russian import purchases.

Russia’s vast land area straddles both Europe and Asia forming borders with 10 European countries, 5 Asian countries. The Russian Federation also shares a maritime border in the Bering Strait between Asia and North America.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Russian imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Russia’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Russia amounted to $54.9 billion or 23.7% of overall Russian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 1.5% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 83.9% of Russia’s imports from mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $15 billion
Machinery: $13.1 billion
Vehicles: $2.1 billion
Plastics: $1.9 billion
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $1.85 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.78 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.8 billion
Iron or steel products: $1.76 billion
Footwear: $1.42 billion
Toys, games: $1.4 billion
Furniture, lighting, signs: $1.1 billion
Knit or crochet clothing: $912.7 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $905.6 million
Base metal tools, cutlery: $601.9 million
Rubber: $588.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Russian imports from China under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via a 176.8% gain in revenue, medical or technical equipment (up 45%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (up 26.5%) then organic chemicals (up 12.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Russia’s top 15 imported products were knitted and crocheted clothing (down -20.8%), footwear (down -18.7%), products made from iron or steel (down -15.7%) then toys and games (down -10.8%).

Russia’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Russia amounted to $23.4 billion or 10.1% of overall Russian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -6.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 82.2% of Russia’s imports from Germany.

Machinery: $5.9 billion
Vehicles: $2.8 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $2.1 billion
Electronic equipment: $1.8 billion
Plastics: $1.5 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.4 billion
Iron or steel products: $647.8 million
Other chemical goods: $607 million
Organic chemicals: $490.5 million
Paper: $383.9 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $341.9 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $329.7 million
Rubber: $320.5 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $300.1 million
Other food preparations: $298.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Russian imports from Germany under the medical or technical equipment product category via a 6.1% gain in revenue then miscellaneous chemical goods (up 3.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Russia’s top 15 imported products were pharmaceuticals (down -32.2%), vehicles (down -23.4%), organic chemicals (down -11.5%) and paper (down -10.1%).

Russia’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Russia amounted to $13.2 billion or 5.7% of overall Russian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -1.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 62% of Russia’s imports from America.

Machinery: $1.8 billion
Vehicles: $1.5 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $1.2 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.1 billion
Electronic equipment: $640.4 million
Other chemical goods: $441.7 million
Plastics: $418.4 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $212.8 million
Iron or steel products: $205.9 million
Rubber: $158.2 million
Organic chemicals: $138 million
Oil seed: $116.2 million
Other food preparations: $90.2 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $79.7 million
Beverages: $78.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Russian imports from the United States under the oil seed product category via a 8.3% gain in revenue and miscellaneous food preparations (up 5.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Russia’s top 15 imported products were soaps, lubricants and candles (down -18.6%), pharmaceuticals (down -18.6%), beverages (down -15.7%), rubber (down -13.8%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -13.5%) and vehicles (down -11.8%).

Russia’s Main Imports from Belarus

In 2020, Belarus’ exports to Russia amounted to $12.6 billion or 5.4% of overall Russian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -1.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 70% of Russia’s imports from Belarus.

Dairy, eggs, honey: $2.1 billion
Vehicles: $1.3 billion
Machinery: $1.1 billion
Electronic equipment: $794.7 million
Plastics: $693.6 million
Meat: $534.8 million
Iron or steel products: $476.7 million
Meat, seafood preparations: $324.2 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $321.1 million
Wood: $238.8 million
Medical, technical equipment: $235.7 million
Pharmaceuticals: $221 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $189.5 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $184.8 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $166.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Russian imports from Belarus under the mineral fuels including oil product category via a 157.4% gain in revenue, food waste and animal fodder (up 36.4%), medical or technical equipment (up 21.6%), wood (up 17.9%) and pharmaceuticals (up 10.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Russia’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -22.1%) and meat (down -10.4%).

Russia’s Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to Russia amounted to $10.2 billion or 4.4% of overall Russian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -6.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 78.4% of Russia’s imports from Italy.

Machinery: $3.2 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $800.6 million
Electronic equipment: $673 million
Plastics: $475.3 million
Beverages: $432.3 million
Iron or steel products: $380.2 million
Footwear: $300.1 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $282.8 million
Medical, technical equipment: $245 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $240.2 million
Vehicles: $226.2 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $195.5 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $187.8 million
Other chemical goods: $180.9 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $175.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Russian imports from Italy under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 13.8% gain in revenue and electronic equipment (up 7.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Russia’s top 15 imported products were perfumes and cosmetics (down -24.5%), pharmaceuticals (down -19.9%), knitted and crocheted clothing (down -16.6%), vehicles (down -13.6%) and footwear (down -12.6%).

Russia’s Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to Russia amounted to $8.1 billion or 3.5% of overall Russian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -5.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 62% of Russia’s imports from France.

Machinery: $927.7 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $642.8 million
Pharmaceuticals: $576.2 million
Electronic equipment: $479.6 million
Other chemical goods: $372.3 million
Beverages: $345 million
Vehicles: $300.5 million
Plastics: $261.4 million
Organic chemicals: $247 million
Medical, technical equipment: $239.4 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $149 million
Oil seed: $142.6 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $133.8 million
Iron or steel products: $107.8 million
Rubber: $90.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Russian imports from France under the oil seed product category via a 63.1% gain in revenue then food waste and animal fodder (up 17.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Russia’s top 15 imported products were pharmaceuticals (down -41.8%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -26.1%), products made from iron or steel (down -18.8%), rubber (down -18%), vehicles (down -16.3%) and electronic equipment (down -13.2%).

Russia’s Main Imports from South Korea

In 2020, South Korea’s exports to Russia amounted to $7.2 billion or 3.1% of overall Russian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -10.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90.6% of Russia’s imports from South Korea.

Vehicles: $1.5 billion
Machinery: $1.3 billion
Electronic equipment: $895 million
Ships, boats: $750.9 million
Plastics: $481.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $302.8 million
Iron and steel: $241.7 million
Rubber: $188.6 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $172 million
Iron or steel products: $152 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $131.9 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $128.5 million
Pharmaceuticals: $101.5 million
Organic chemicals: $82 million
Base metal tools, cutlery: $79 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Russian imports from South Korea under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 212.9% gain in revenue, base metal tools and cutlery (up 58.4%), mineral fuels including oil (up 42.6%), ships and boats (up 30.2%) and medical or technical equipment (up 14.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Russia’s top 15 imported products were organic chemicals (down -50%), vehicles (down -33.1%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -32.3%), products made from iron or steel (down -28.1%), rubber (down -19.4%) and plastics as a material (down -14.3%).

Russia’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Russia amounted to $7.1 billion or 3.1% of overall Russian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -20.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 94.5% of Russia’s imports from Japan.

Vehicles: $2.8 billion
Machinery: $1.5 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $534 million
Electronic equipment: $530.9 million
Rubber: $388.2 million
Iron or steel products: $138.3 million
Pharmaceuticals: $138 million
Plastics: $135.9 million
Ships, boats: $129.2 million
Organic chemicals: $129.1 million
Other manufactured products: $87.7 million
Other chemical goods: $63.6 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $57.1 million
Photo/cinematographic goods: $56.2 million
Base metal tools, cutlery: $43 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Russian imports from Japan under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 35.4% gain in revenue, ships and boats (up 34.7%), organic chemicals (up 32.5%) and medical or technical equipment (up 17.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Russia’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -53.7%), vehicles (down -30.1%), miscellaneous manufactured products (down -26.4%), base metal tools and cutlery (down -25.3%), rubber (down -23.2%) then machinery (down -19.4%).

Russia’s Main Imports from Turkey

In 2020, Turkey’s exports to Russia amounted to $5.1 billion or 2.2% of overall Russian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 2.8% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 78.7% of Russia’s imports from Turkey.

Fruits, nuts: $1.1 billion
Machinery: $725.6 million
Vehicles: $410.7 million
Electronic equipment: $239.9 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $234.7 million
Plastics: $221.8 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $212.3 million
Iron or steel products: $170 million
Vegetables: $158.9 million
Fish: $132.4 million
Rubber: $98.7 million
Oil seed: $95.2 million
Footwear: $87 million
Other base metal goods: $82 million
Ships, boats: $77.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Russian imports from Turkey under the fish product category via a 41.9% gain in revenue, fruits and nuts (up 32%), machinery (up 29.6%), electronic equipment (up 14.5%) then miscellaneous base metal goods (up 11.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Russia’s top 15 imported products were ships and boats (down -59.3%), footwear (down -25%), vehicles (down -18.8%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -15.7%) and vegetables (down -9.2%).

Russia’s Main Imports from Kazakhstan

In 2020, Kazakhstan’s exports to Russia amounted to $5.1 billion or 2.2% of overall Russian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -9.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 85.7% of Russia’s imports from Kazakhstan.

Ores, slag, ash: $1.6 billion
Iron and steel: $875.6 million
Inorganic chemicals: $614.8 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $342.4 million
Iron or steel products: $148 million
Machinery: $125.2 million
Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $100.9 million
Railway, tram equipment: $93.8 million
Electronic equipment: $90.4 million
Zinc: $85.6 million
Copper: $74.4 million
Cereals: $72.5 million
Plastics: $59.4 million
Other base metals: $45.7 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $43.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Russian imports from Kazakhstan under the cereals product category via a 31% gain in revenue and inorganic chemicals (up 3.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Russia’s top 15 imported products were railway or tram equipment (down -26.6%), machinery (down -26.2%), dairy, eggs and honey (down -25%), copper (down -22.2%), mineral fuels including oil (down -20.8%) then salt, sulphur, stone and cement (down -20.1%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Russia, Borders of Russia.

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Russia’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries