Russian trade surplus narrows 17.8% to $31.8 bln in Q1 - customs

MOSCOW. May 13 (Interfax) - Russia's trade surplus narrowed 17.8% year-on-year in January-March 2025 to $31.8 billion.

Russian merchandise exports fell 6.8% to $94.9 billion and imports rose 0.1% to $63.1 billion, according to export-import data published by the Federal Customs Service.

Foreign trade fell 4.2% year-on-year to $158 billion.

Russian exports to Europe in Q1 2025 amounted to $14.5 billion, down 9.4%, to Asia - $72.2 billion, down 5.4%, to Africa - $5.1 billion, down 8.7%, and to the Americas - $3.0 billion, down 19.9%.

Russian imports from Europe came to $15.8 billion, down 4.4%, from Asia - $42.7 billion, up 1.3%, from Africa - $1.1 billion, up 31.4%, and from the Americas - $3.5 billion, up 3.4%.

Russian exports of mineral products fell 14.1% year-on-year to $55.4 billion, metals and metal goods exports came to $14.2 billion, an increase of 2.9%, food products and agricultural raw materials - $9.0 billion, down 14.0%, chemical products - $7.5 billion, up 23.4%, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other goods - $5.4 billion, up 31.6%, and timber and pulp and paper products - $2.6 billion, up 14.4%.

Russian imports of machinery, equipment, vehicles and other goods fell 3.6% to $30.6 billion, chemical products amounted to $12.8 billion, up 5.2%, food products and agricultural raw materials - $9.5 billion, up 12.5%, textiles, textile products and footwear - $4.4 billion, down 5.0%, and metals and metal products - $4.0 billion, down 2.0%.

Russia's trade surplus widened 7.8% in 2024 to $150.9 billion, from $140 billion in 2023. Exports rose 2.0% to $433.9 billion while imports fell 0.8% to $283 billion.