Presented in descending order, the following list showcases the general product categories under which Russia earned the highest trade surpluses in 2014.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$342.1 billion (81.2% of all product surpluses)
2. Iron and steel: $14.9 billion (3.5%)
3. Gems, precious metals: $10.8 billion (2.6%)
4. Fertilizers: $8.9 billion (2.1%)
5. Cereals: $6.6 billion (1.6%)
6. Wood: $6.4 billion (1.5%)
7. Aluminum: $4.8 billion (1.1%)
8. Copper: $3.9 billion (0.9%)
9. Nickel: $3.9 billion (0.9%)
10. Inorganic chemicals: $1.8 billion (0.4%)

The above top 10 product categories represent 98.1% of Russia’s overall product-category surplus subtotal which amounted to $421.2 billion. For that subtotal, 25 of Russia’s 97 general product categories delivered a surplus in 2014 while the remaining 72 categories incurred deficits.

Russia enriched its trade surplus amounts at the fastest-pace during 2010 to 2014 under the product categories below.

1. Cereals: Up 201.2% since 2010 (US$6.6 billion)
2. Explosives and pyrotechnics: Up 179.5% ($72 million)
3. Vegetable plaiting materials: Up 157.5% ($8.7 million)
4. Fish: Up 109.8% (-$43.9 million)
5. Raw hides, skins excluding furskins and leather:Up 72.6% ($170.7 million)
6. Gems, precious metals: Up 58.1% ($10.8 billion)
7. Organic chemicals: Up 43.9% ($1.4 billion)
8. Mineral fuels including oil: Up 31.6% ($342.1 billion)
9. Wood: Up 23.1% ($6.4 billion)
10. Fertilizers: Up 21.5% ($8.9 billion)

From the perspective of the more detailed 4-digit harmonized tariff system (HTS) level, below are 15 products that enabled Russia to achieve the highest surpluses in its international trade with other countries.

1. Crude oil: US$153.6 billion
2. Processed petroleum oils: $113.7 billion
3. Petroleum gases: $62.3 billion
4. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $11 billion
5. Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished): $6.6 billion
6. Wheat: $5.3 billion
7. Diamonds (unmounted/unset): $5.3 billion
8. Aluminum (unwrought): $5.1 billion
9. Nickel (unwrought): $3.8 billion
10. Sawn wood: $3.7 billion
11. Nitrogenous fertilizers: $3.2 billion
12. Fertilizer mixes: $3 billion
13. Gold (unwrought): $3 billion
14. Potassic fertilizers: $2.7 billion
15. Copper wire: $2.6 billion

Among these, wheat had the fastest-growing Russian surplus with a 157.6% gain since 2010. In second place was copper wire up 99.9% while exported diamonds moved ahead in value by 95.7%.

Presented in descending order, the following list shows with which trade partners Russia earned the highest trade surpluses in 2014.

1. Switzerland: US$136.1 billion (53.5% of Russian country-specific surpluses)
2. United Kingdom: $22.7 billion (8.9%)
3. British Virgin Islands: $13.7 billion (5.4%)
4. Austria: $13.4 billion (5.3%)
5. Singapore: $10.2 billion (4%)
6. Kazakhstan: $8.3 billion (3.3%)
7. Bermuda: $5.7 billion (2.2%)
8. Hong Kong: $4.2 billion (1.6%)
9. Belarus: $4.2 billion (1.6%)
10. Poland: $4 billion (1.6%)

The above 10 trade partners represent 87.5% of Russia’s subtotal surplus of $254.3 billion from the 99 geographic entities with which Russia demonstrated competitive trade advantages. That subtotal excludes the 120 trade partners with which Russia incurred trade deficits.

Russia enriched its trade surplus amounts with the countries below at the fastest-pace during 2010 to 2014.

1. Seychelles: Up 88,804% since 2010 (US$98.7 million)
2. Rwanda: Up 44,888% ($35.1 million)
3. Anguilla: Up 41,829% ($50.3 million)
4. Sao Tome/Principe: Up 40,367% ($2.4 million)
5. British Virgin Islands: Up 14,567% ($13.7 billion)
6. Bermuda: Up 10,951% ($5.7 billion)
7. Vietnam: Up 7,287% ($739.9 million)
8. Belize: Up 6,379% ($1.6 billion)
9. Switzerland: Up 2,107% ($136.1 billion)
10. Iraq: Up 1,424% ($1.6 billion)

From the above list, Russia showed major product supply advantages over trade partners with comparatively small populations and for generally small surplus amounts. However, Russia did generate billion-dollar positive trade balances with Switzerland, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Belize and Iraq.

Below are the products that gave Russia the highest surpluses in its international trade with Switzerland.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$64.3 billion (47.2% of Russia’s surplus vs. Switzerland)
2. Crude oil: $45.2 billion (33.2%)
3. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $7.2 billion (5.3%)
4. Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished): $4.7 billion (3.5%)
5. Nickel (unwrought): $3.7 billion (2.7%)
6. Potassic fertilizers: $2.6 billion (1.9%)
7. Wheat: $2.5 billion (1.9%)
8. Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: $2.2 billion (1.6%)
9. Refined copper, unwrought alloys: $1.9 billion (1.4%)
10. Nitrogenous fertilizers: $1.8 billion (1.3%)

Among these, crude oil had the fastest-growing Russian surplus with Switzerland from 2010 to 2014. In second place was coal followed by wheat.

Below are the products that gave Russia the highest surpluses in its international trade with the United Kingdom.

1. Crude oil: US$17.2 billion (75.9% of Russia’s surplus versus UK)
2. Processed petroleum oils: $9.2 billion (40.5%)
3. Aluminum (unwrought): $3.7 billion (16.2%)
4. Gold (unwrought): $2.5 billion (11.1%)
5. Iron or steel scrap: $395.4 million (1.7%)
6. Synthetic rubber: $231.1 million (1%)
7. Aluminum wire: $199.8 million (0.9%)
8. Silver (unwrought): $191.5 million (0.8%)
9. Wheat: $188.7 million (0.8%)
10. Light vessels, fire boats, floating docks: $185.6 million (0.8%)

Among these, iron or steel scrap had the fastest-growing Russian surplus with the UK from 2010 to 2014. In second place was unwrought aluminum followed by aluminum wire.

Below are the products that gave Russia the highest surpluses in its international trade with the British Virgin Islands.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$13.3 billion (96.8% of Russia’s surplus vs. British Virgin Islands)
2. Iron ferroalloys: $272.6 million (2%)
3. Wheat: $255.3 million (1.9%)
4. Iron or steel scrap: $182.9 million (1.3%)
5. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $159.6 million (1.2%)
6. Sun/safflower/cotton-seed oil: $155.2 million (1.1%)
7. Crude oil: $106.7 million (0.8%)
8. Sawn wood: $103.9 million (0.8%)
9. Copper wire: $88.8 million (0.6%)
10. Iron or non-alloy steel bars, rods: $51.4 million (0.4%)

Among these, refined petroleum oils had the fastest-growing Russian surplus with the British Virgin Islands from 2010 to 2014. In second place was iron or steel scrap followed by sawn wood.