Russian trade surplus widens 14% to $73.4 bln in H1 - customs

MOSCOW. Aug 10 (Interfax) - Russia's trade surplus widened 14% to $73.4 billion in the first half of 2026 from $64.4 billion a year previously, according to Federal Customs Service data published on Monday.

Russian merchandise exports rose 11.9% to $219.5 billion in H1 2026 from $196.3 billion a year previously, and imports rose 10.8% to $146.1 billion from $131.9 billion.

Foreign trade grew 11.4% to $365.6 billion from $328.2 billion.

Russian exports to Europe fell 5.6% year-on-year to $28 billion, to Asia they rose 17.2% to $174.9 billion, exports to Africa rose 1.1% to $10.7 billion and to the Americas they fell 12.1% to $5.7 billion.

Russia's imports from Europe rose 8.7% year-on-year to $37.1 billion, from Asia they grew 12.6% to $98.9 billion, from Africa they fell 8.9% to $2.2 billion and from the Americas they rose 4.6% to $7.9 billion.

Exports of mineral products rose 9.1% year-on-year in H1 2026 to $120.7 billion, exports of metals and metal products totaled $40.1 billion, up 24.8%, food products and agricultural raw materials - $22.4 billion, up 25.9%, chemical products - $17.2 billion, up 5.2%, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other goods - $12.1 billion, down 4.6%, timber and pulp and paper products - $5 billion, down 4%, and textiles, textile products and footwear - $1.8 billion, up 25.8%.

Russian imports of machinery, equipment, vehicles and other goods rose 12.4% year-on-year to $70.9 billion, chemical product imports came to $29.4 billion, up 10.1%, food products and agricultural raw materials - $22 billion, up 5.8%, textiles, textile products and footwear - $9.8 billion, up 11.8%, metals and metal products - $8.7 billion, up 1.2%, and mineral products - $3 billion, up 60%.

Russia's foreign trade surplus was $139.3 billion in 2025, down 8.2% from 2024, with exports falling 3.7% to $418.3 billion and imports falling 1.4% to $279 billion.