The Russian Federation imported US$194.4 billion worth of products from around the world in 2022.

That estimated dollar metric results from a -18.4% reduction from five years earlier in 2018 when total Russian imports cost $238.2 billion.

Year over year, Russia’s imports dropped by -33.8% compared to the $293.5 billion that the Russian Federation spent in 2021.

Russia’s 5 biggest imports by dollar value are medication mixes in dosage, cars, phone devices including smartphones, computers, then automobile parts or accessories. That cohort of products represent 15.1% of all Russian spending on imports..

Based on the average exchange rate for 2022, the Russian ruble depreciated by -9.3% against the US dollar since 2018 but strengthened by 7% from 2021 to 2022. The Russian Federation’s weaker local currency compared to 2018 make its imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively more expensive when converted starting from Russian rubles.

Domestically, Russia recorded a 13.774% inflation rate in terms of average consumer prices. That percentage compares to the Russian Federation’s average domestic 6.694% inflation rate for 2021.

From a continental perspective, 47% of Russia’s total imports by value in 2022 were purchased from countries in Asia. Fellow European trade partners generated 42.5% of import sales to Russia while another 6.7% worth originated from North America.

Smaller percentages came from Latin America (2.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (1%) and Oceania (0.3%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

Given Russia ‘s population of 143.4 million people, its total $194.4 billion in 2022 imports translates to roughly $1,400 in yearly product demand from every person in the vast Eurasian country. That metric falls well below the average $2,000 per capita one year earlier in 2021.

Russia’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Russia’s import purchases during 2022. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Russia.

1. Machinery including computers: US$34.8 billion (17.9% of total imports)
2. Electrical machinery, equipment: $20.9 billion (10.8%)
3. Vehicles: $14.5 billion (7.4%)
4. Pharmaceuticals: $13.8 billion (7.1%)
5. Plastics, plastic articles: $8.7 billion (4.5%)
6. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $6.7 billion (3.4%)
7. Organic chemicals: $5.6 billion (2.9%)
8. Fruits, nuts: $4.5 billion (2.3%)
9. Articles of iron or steel: $4.3 billion (2.2%)
10. Iron, steel: $3.5 billion (1.8%)

Russia’s top 10 imports accounted for roughly three-fifths (60.3%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Pharmaceuticals represent the lone growth import group for Russia, up 0.2% from 2021 to 2022.

The severest decliners among Russia’s top 10 import categories were vehicles (down -46% from 2021), electrical machinery and equipment (down -43.2%) then the metals iron and steel (down -41.3%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under the adjacent virtual folder tabs is at the more granular 4-digit level.

Russia’s Machinery Imports

In 2022, Russian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$4.3 billion (down -45.2% from 2021)
2. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $2.6 billion (down -4.3%)
3. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $1.9 billion (down -25.8%)
4. Air or vacuum pumps: $1.6 billion (down -10.6%)
5. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $1.4 billion (down -30.4%)
6. Liquid pumps and elevators: $1.2 billion (down -34.2%)
7. Machinery parts: $1.13 billion (up 17%)
8. Miscellaneous machinery: $1.13 billion (down -45%)
9. Temperature-change machines: $990.6 million (down -73.9%)
10. Air conditioners: $916.5 million (down -11.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Russian purchases of machinery parts was the lone gainer thanks to a 17% increase from 2021.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among Russian businesses and consumers.

Russia’s Imports of Electrical Products

In 2022, Russian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical products including consumer electronics.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$5.8 billion (down -49.5% from 2021)
2. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $1.5 billion (down -34.8%)
3. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $1.4 billion (down -8%)
4. Electrical converters/power units: $967.8 million (down -35.3%)
5. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $909.4 million (down -41%)
6. Electric generating sets, converters: $683.6 million (down -16.6%)
7. Electric storage batteries: $678.3 million (down -22.2%)
8. Electrical machinery: $662.5 million (down -18.5%)
9. Electric motors, generators: $632.6 million (down -39%)
10. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $615.7 million (down -60.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Russian purchases of television receivers, monitors and projectors recorded the most modest retreat via an -8% reduction from 2021.

These amounts and the percentage gain within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among Russian businesses and consumers.

Russia’s Vehicles Imports

In 2022, Russian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Cars: US$6.3 billion (down -21.6% from 2021)
2. Automobile parts/accessories: $3.6 billion (down -66.2%)
3. Trucks: $1.9 billion (down -16%)
4. Tractors: $821.6 million (down -48.1%)
5. Trailers: $473.3 million (down -53.4%)
6. Special purpose vehicles: $462.5 million (up 58.9%)
7. Motorcycles: $245 million (down -16.9%)
8. Public-transport vehicles: $191.4 million (up 16.1%)
9. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $128.5 million (down -39.5%)
10. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $126 million (down -26.8%)

Among these import subcategories, Russian purchases of special purpose vehicles (up 58.9%) and public-transport vehicles (up 16.1%) grew from 2021.

These amounts and percentages within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among Russian businesses and consumers.

Russia’s Pharmaceuticals Imports

In 2022, Russian importers spent the most on the following 6 subcategories of pharmaceuticals.

1. Medication mixes in dosage: US$9.4 billion (up 0.4% from 2021)
2. Blood fractions (including antisera): $3.5 billion (down -2.7%)
3. Sutures, special pharmaceutical goods: $454.6 million (up 17.6%)
4. Medication mixes not in dosage: $212.6 million (down -0.4%)
5. Dried organs, heparin: $141.5 million (down -29.6%)
6. Packaged dressings: $71.4 million (up 21.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Russian purchases of packaged dressings (up 21.4%), sutures and other special pharmaceutical goods (up 17.6%) then medication mixes in dosage (up 0.4%) grew from 2021.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported pharmaceuticals among Russian businesses and consumers.
 

 

See also Russia’s Top 10 Exports, Russia Top Trading Partners, Top Russian Trade Balances and Russia’s Top 10 Major Export Companies

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Country Profiles. Accessed on August 2, 2023

International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (Domestic Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on August 2, 2023

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on August 2, 2023

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 2, 2023