The most valuable Russian imports also include automotive parts and accessories, footwear and rubber tires.
The following list shows on which products Russian importers spent the most money. Unlike most information currently available on the web, the items below are detailed at the 4-digit tariff code level.
This level of granularity can help identify more precisely which products in which Russia has strong demand but competitive disadvantages compared with other nations — and therefore uncover innovation opportunities for entrepreneurs who can satisfy that demand.
For the most recent four-digit HTS code data, please see the link to Russia’s Top 10 Imports article in the See also paragraph above Research Sources below.
Highest Value Russian Import Products
Below are the 20 highest value import products delivered to Russian importers in 2017. Shown within brackets is the change in value for each item over the 5-year period starting in 2013.
- Medication mixes in dosage: US$8.4 billion (Down -27.8% from 2013 to 2017)
- Phone system devices including smartphones: $8.4 billion (Up 9.2%)
- Automobile parts/accessories: $7.9 billion (Down -30.9%)
- Temperature-change machines: $6.9 billion (Up 176.9%)
- Cars: $6.7 billion (Down -60.6%)
- Computers, optical readers: $5.1 billion (Up 4.8%)
- Trucks: $2 billion (Down -32.2%)
- Taps, valves, similar appliances: $1.8 billion (Down -21.2%)
- Blood fractions (including antisera): $1.8 billion (Down -18.7%)
- Miscellaneous machinery: $1.7 billion (Down -35.3%)
- Electro-medical equip (e.g. xrays): $1.7 billion (Down -28.1%)
- Tractors: $1.7 billion (Up 2.9%)
- Rubber tires (new): $1.7 billion (Down -36.5%)
- Liquid pumps and elevators: $1.7 billion (Down -25.2%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $1.6 billion (Down -27.2%)
- Footwear (leather): $1.5 billion (Down -28.3%)
- Aluminum oxide/hydroxide: $1.5 billion (Up 6.8%)
- Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $1.5 billion (Down -50.8%)
- Automobile bodies: $1.5 billion (Down -62.9%)
- Cruise/cargo ships, barges: $1.5 billion (Up 6.6%)
Among these top product categories, temperature-change machines was the fastest-growing Russian import up 176.9% over the 5-year period. Phone system devices including smartphones appreciated by 9.2% while aluminum oxide or hydroxide gained 6.8% from 2013 to 2017.
Leading the decliners were automobile bodies (down -62.9%), cars (down -60.6%), heavy machinery (down -50.8%) and new rubber tires (down -36.5%).
Overall, Russian imports decreased in value by -27.9% from 2013 to 2017.
See also Russia’s Top 10 Imports, Russia’s Top 10 Exports, Russia’s Top Trading Partners and Top Russian Trade Balances
Research Sources:
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on March 4, 2018
The World Factbook, Field Listing: Imports and World Population, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on March 4, 2018
Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis. Accessed on Accessed on March 4, 2018