That calculated dollar metric results from an -11.8% reduction from five years earlier in 2020 when total Russian imports cost $231.7 billion.
Year over year, total costs of Russian imports decreased by -6.6% compared to the $218.8 billion that the Russian Federation spent on products imported in 2023.
Russia’s 5 biggest imports by dollar value are cars, medication mixes in dosage, phone devices including smartphones, computers, then automobile parts or accessories. That leading cohort of products represents 19.1% of all Russian spending on imports, a relatively smaller percentage suggesting a diversified basket of Russia’s imports..
Based on the average exchange rate for 2024, the Russian ruble depreciated by -8.7% against the US dollar from 2023 to 2024. The Russian Federation’s weaker local currency make its imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively more expensive when converted starting from Russian rubles.
Domestically, Russia recorded an 8.444% inflation rate in terms of average consumer prices in 2024. That percentage compares to the Russian Federation’s average 5.859% domestic inflation rate for 2023.
The latest available country-specific data from 2021 shows that 69.4% of products imported from Russia was furnished by buyers in: mainland China (24.8% of the Russian total), Germany (9.3%), United States of America (5.9%), Belarus (5.3%), South Korea (4.4%), France (4.2%), Italy (4.1%), Japan (3.1%), Kazakhstan (2.4%), Türkiye (2.2%), Poland (2%) and Vietnam (1.7%).
From a continental perspective, 47% of Russia’s total imports by value (based on 2021 data) was 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 146.1 million people, its total US$204.3 billion in 2024 imports translates to roughly $1,400 in yearly product demand from every person in the vast Eurasian country. That metric lags the average $1,425 per capita one year earlier in 2023.
Russia’s Top 10 Imports
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Russia’s import purchases during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Russia.
- Machinery including computers: US$37 billion (18.1% of total imports)
- Vehicles: $29.3 billion (14.3%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $20.5 billion (10.1%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $12.4 billion (6.1%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $7.5 billion (3.7%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $7 billion (3.4%)
- Organic chemicals: $5.1 billion (2.5%)
- Inorganic chemicals: $4.7 billion (2.3%)
- Fruits, nuts: $4.1 billion (2%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: $4 billion (2%)
Russia’s top 10 import product categories generated almost two-thirds (64.4%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.
The strongest growth in Russian spending among the listed product categories was for imports of inorganic chemicals (up 18.4% from 2023), vehicles (up 3%) and organic chemicals (up 1%).
The severest decliners among Russia’s top 10 import categories were electrical machinery and equipment (down -19.9% from 2023), fruits and nuts (down -11.7%), then plastics both as materials and items made from plastics (down -9.4%).
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 2024, Russian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.
- Computers, optical readers: US$4.4 billion (down -2.8% from 2023)
- Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $2.4 billion (down -22.4%)
- Taps, valves, similar appliances: $1.8 billion (down -4.8%)
- Miscellaneous machinery: $1.35 billion (up 38.1%)
- Air or vacuum pumps: $1.29 billion (down -0.5%)
- Liquid pumps and elevators: $1.23 billion (down -3.2%)
- Machinery parts: $1.21 billion (down -2.5%)
- Air conditioners: $1.11 billion (up 15.4%)
- Temperature-change machines: $1.02 billion (down -6.8%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $1 billion (down -26.4%)
Among these import subcategories, Russian purchases of miscellaneous machinery (up 38.1%) and air conditioners (up 15.4%) grew from 2023 to 2024.
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 Vehicles Imports
In 2024, Russian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.
- Cars: US$17.3 billion (up 15% from 2023)
- Automobile parts/accessories: $3.6 billion (up 1.9%)
- Tractors: $2.82 billion (down -28%)
- Trucks: $2.79 billion (down -14.3%)
- Trailers: $682.8 million (up 5.9%)
- Special purpose vehicles: $671.7 million (up 3.4%)
- Motorcycles: $476.2 million (up 33.4%)
- Public-transport vehicles: $380.2 million (up 4.1%)
- Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $164.1 million (up 16.6%)
- Motorcycle parts/accessories: $112.4 million (up 5%)
Among these import subcategories, Russian purchases of motorcycles (up 33.4%), bicycles plus other non-motorized cycles (up 16.6%), then cars (up 15%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
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 Imports of Electrical Products
In 2024, Russian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical products including consumer electronics.
- Phone devices including smartphones: US$5.2 billion (down -32.2% from 2023)
- Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $1.9 billion (up 1.3%)
- TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $1.6 billion (down -17.6%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $977.5 million (down -35.1%)
- Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $864.4 million (down -22.3%)
- Electric motors, generators: $725.3 million (up 2.2%)
- Electromechanic domestic appliances: $716.6 million (up 2.8%)
- Microphones/headphones/amps: $709.4 million (down -17.3%)
- Electric storage batteries: $708.3 million (down -8.9%)
- Electrical machinery: $692.5 million (down -18.4%)
Among these import subcategories, Russian purchases of electromechanic domestic appliances (up 2.8%), electric motors and generators (up 2.2%), then electric water heaters and hair dryers (up 1.3%) grew from 2023 to 2024.
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 Pharmaceuticals Imports
In 2024, Russian importers spent the most on the following 6 subcategories of pharmaceuticals.
- Medication mixes in dosage: US$8.5 billion (down -0.3% from 2023)
- Blood fractions (including antisera): $3.2 billion (up 3.2%)
- Sutures, special pharmaceutical goods: $417.2 million (down -14.4%)
- Medication mixes not in dosage: $200.1 million (up 14.2%)
- Packaged dressings: $63.7 million (down -19.7%)
- Dried organs, heparin: $49.4 million (up 67.3%)
Among these import subcategories, Russian purchases of dried organs and heparin (up 67.3%), medication mixes not in dosage (up 14.2%), then blood fractions including antisera (up 3.2%) grew from 2023 to 2024.
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 May 10, 2025
EXCHANGE-RATES.org Russian Ruble (RUB) to US Dollar, Exchange Rate History. Accessed on May 10, 2025
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on May 10, 2025
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 10, 2025