In 2021, Russia was the fifth largest partner for EU exports of goods (4.1% of extra-EU exports, equivalent to EUR 89 billion) and the third-largest partner for EU imports of goods (7.5 % of extra-EU imports, equivalent to EUR 158 billion).
The COVID-19 crisis caused both exports and imports between the EU and Russia to fall in 2020, bringing the trade deficit close to EUR 16 billion, the lowest trade deficit between 2011 and 2021 between the EU and Russia. In this decade, the EU’s trade deficit with Russia has decreased from EUR 89 billion in 2011 to EUR 69 billion in 2021.
Both exports to and imports from Russia decreased between 2011 and 2021. EU exports to Russia were highest in 2012 (EUR 118 billion) and lowest in 2016 (EUR 69 billion). EU imports from Russia were highest in 2012 (EUR 204 billion) and lowest in 2020 (EUR 95 billion).
EU energy imports dropped 14.2 pp in 10 years
Looking at the breakdown by product, energy was the most imported product by the EU from Russia in 2021. Energy represented 62 % of EU imports from Russia last year (equivalent to EUR 99 billion), indicating a significant drop of 14.2 percentage points (pp), compared with 2011, when energy represented almost 77 % of EU imports from Russia (EUR 148 billion).
Between 2011 and 2021, EU energy imports from Russia were highest in 2012 (EUR 157 billion) and lowest in 2020 (almost EUR 60 billion).
For more information:
Eurostat Statistics Explained article on Russia-EU – international trade in goods statistics
Eurostat Statistics Explained article on Ukraine-EU – international trade in goods statistics
Eurostat Statistics Explained article on China-EU – international trade in goods statistics
Eurostat Statistics Explained article on USA-EU – international trade in goods statistics
Eurostat Statistics Explained article on Switzerland-EU – international trade in goods statistics
Eurostat Statistics Explained article on EU international trade in goods – latest developments
Eurostat dedicated section on international trade in goods
Eurostat database on international trade in goods
Eurostat database on detailed statistics on international trade in goods (Comext)