Russia-China Trade Grows 25.6% in First Half of 2026

July 14, 2026 Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. kremlin.ru Trade between Russia and China rose 25.6% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, reaching $134.2 billion, according to official data cited by Russia’s trade mission in China on Tuesday. Russian exports to China grew 23.3% to $73.6 billion between January and June. Russian imports from China, meanwhile, rose 28.4% to $60.6 billion, giving Russia a trade surplus with its largest trading partner. The rebound marks a reversal from 2025, when bilateral trade fell for the first time in five years, dragged down by lower Chinese vehicle exports to Russia and falling Russian oil revenues. Last month, President Vladimir Putin boasted of a “steady” 10% increase in bilateral trade. “We hope to keep this momentum going,” Putin told China’s Vice President Han Zheng on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. China’s overall foreign trade also expanded in the first half of 2026, growing 21.2% to $3.67 trillion, official customs data showed. Exports were up 17.6% to $2.13 trillion, and imports up 26.6% to $1.55 trillion. Russia and China have expanded political and economic cooperation since Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with the two countries describing their relationship as a “no-limits” partnership. Russia has become increasingly reliant on China for selling oil as its access to Western markets has diminished. Read more about: China , Trade Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Chinese Exports to Russia Record Sharpest Drop Since February Russian shipments to China also fell sharply, declining 17.8% year-on-year to $9.35 billion, a 6.9% decrease from July. 1 Min read Russia Nearly Doubles Precious Metals Exports to China in 2025 – Bloomberg With Western markets largely closed, China has become one of the few remaining major outlets for Russia’s lucrative precious metals trade. 1 Min read Russia-China Trade Falls 9% in First Half of 2025 The decline in trade comes after overall growth in Russia-China commerce slowed sharply in 2024, rising just 1.9% year-on-year. 1 Min read Will Russia Come Out a Winner in Trump’s Trade Wars? U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs notably do not include Russia or its neighbor Belarus. 5 Min read