Russia's trade with China expanded sharply after 2022 as China replaced Western brands and Russia redirected energy exports east. Turnover rose 29% in 2022 and 26% in 2023, peaking at $245 billion in 2024, but growth slowed to 2% and trade fell about 8% in the first seven months of 2025 to $125.8 billion. Market saturation with Chinese goods, internal economic dynamics in both countries, sanctions, and volatile commodity markets have reduced trade momentum. Policy responses include higher tariffs on Chinese-made cars to protect domestic industry.
Trade between the two countries surged after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as China filled the gap left by Western brands and Moscow diverted energy exports eastward. Turnover in Russia-China trade rose 29% in 2022 and 26% in 2023, reaching a record $245 billion in 2024. But growth slowed to just 2% last year, and in the first seven months of 2025, trade fell about 8% year-on-year to $125.8 billion.
"In the current year, we are recording a certain decline in mutual trade," said Anton Alikhanov, Russia's industry and trade minister, on Tuesday at a business forum. "We also note the gradual saturation of the market with Chinese products in certain market segments, as well as internal economic processes both in Russia and in China," Alikhanov said. Sanctions and volatility in commodity markets have also weighed on flows, he said.
Chinese companies have dominated Russia's consumer markets, especially cars, where they quickly took the majority of new sales after Western firms exited. But the wave of imports has also raised unease in Moscow. This year, the Kremlin increased tariffs on Chinese-made cars - a move mirroring protective trade steps in the US and Europe against Chinese overcapacity.
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