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bandera Rusia Rusia: Apertura internacional

Foreign Trade in Figures | Trade Compliance | Standards

Foreign Trade in Figures

The country is fairly open to foreign trade (which represents around 50% of the GDP) despite the nationalistic attitude of its leaders and strict legislation and fare policies. Russia is amongst the 10 primary exporters and the 12 largest exporters and one of the 20 largest importers in the world. Its main trade partners are China, Germany, The Netherlands and the United States. The country shows a high trade surplus and this should continue regardless of the drop in raw material prices and the deterioration of the global economic situation.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20072008200920102011
Imports of Goods (million USD) 223,486291,861191,803248,397323,208
Exports of Goods (million USD) 354,403471,606303,388400,018521,968
Imports of Services (million USD) 56,76873,61659,24172,27989,950
Exports of Services (million USD) 38,96050,52741,06844,60554,298
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 26.214.8-30.417.9-
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 6.30.6-4.74.6-
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 21.522.120.520.5-
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 30.231.328.028.7-
Trade Balance (million USD) 130,915179,742111,585151,681-
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) 112,027155,45391,750122,484-
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 51.753.448.549.1-

Source: WTO - World Trade Organization ; World Bank , Last Available Data

 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2010
Netherlands 14.3%
Italy 6.5%
China 5.3%
Germany 4.3%
Poland 3.8%
See More Countries 65.9%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2010
China 18.0%
Germany 12.2%
Ukraine 6.4%
Japan 4.7%
Italy 4.6%
See More Countries 54.0%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

 

Main Products

Main Exports
(% of Exports)
2010
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 34.6%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 18.6%
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbonsPetroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons 12.8%
Coal; briquettes, ovoids and similar solid fuels...Coal; briquettes, ovoids and similar solid fuels manufactured from coal 2.5%
Semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steelSemi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel 1.9%
See More Products 29.6%
Main Imports
(% of Imports)
2010
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 5.2%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 4.2%
Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles...Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons, motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, motor vehicles for the transport of goods and special purpose motor vehicles of heading 8701 to 8705, n.e.s. 2.5%
Automatic data processing machines and units...Automatic data processing machines and units thereof; magnetic or optical readers, machines for transcribing data onto data media in coded form and machines for processing such data, n.e.s. 2.3%
Transmission apparatus for radio-telephony,...Transmission apparatus for radio-telephony, radio-telegraphy, radio-broadcasting or television, whether or not incorporating reception apparatus or sound recording or reproducing apparatus; television cameras; still image video cameras and other video camera recorders; digital cameras 2.2%
See More Products 83.5%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

 
 

To go further, check out our service Flujos de importación-exportación.

 

Exchange Rate System

Local Currency
Russian Rouble (RUB)
Exchange Rate Regime
Controlled floating exchange rate system.
Level of Currency Instability
The exchange rate of the rouble is stable, even if there is pressure to revise it upwards.
Because it exports so much, Russia has accumulated considerable foreign currency reserves, which would enable it to cope with a possible reversal in its economic situation.
Exchange Rate on :

 
Monetary Indicators 20062007200820092010
Russian Rouble (RUB) - Average Annual Exchange Rate For 1 USD 27.1925.5824.8531.7430.37

Source: World Bank - Last Available Data.

 
 

Find out all the exchange rates daily on our service Conversor de divisas.

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Trade Compliance

International Conventions
Party to the Kyoto Protocol
Party to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
Party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
Party to the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls For Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies
Main International Economic Cooperation
Russia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Community, heir to the CIS, which is a free-trade zone and aims to build a common economic area.
It has signed a partnership and cooperation agreement with the European Union which aims to create a common economic area. It generally enjoys most favored nation status (MFN) and benefits from the generalized system of preferences (GSP) in its relations with the United States.
Party of the ATA Convention on Temporary Admissions and Use of the Carnets
Yes

As a Reminder, the ATA is a System Allowing the Free Movement of Goods Across Frontiers and Their Temporary Admission Into a Customs Territory With Relief From Duties and Taxes. The Goods Are Covered By a Single Document Known as the ATA Carnet That is Secured By an International Guarantee System.
Look Up the Other Member Countries And Read the Web Pages of the World Customs Organization Devoted to the ATA Carnet.
Party of the TIR Convention
Yes

As a Reminder, the TIR Convention and its Transit Regime Contribute to the Facilitation of International Transport, Especially International Road Transport, Not Only in Europe and the Middle East, But Also in Other Parts of the World, Such as Africa and Latin America.
The UNCTAD Website Allows You to Read the TIR Convention, See the List of Member Countries And to Find Further Information.
Accompanying Documents For Imports
Goods shipped to Russia must be accompanied by the following documents:
- the single administrative document (SAD)
- The commercial invoice: it must be drawn up in triplicate, in English or in Russian, and contain the usual notes. It must specify the number of the Customs terminal.
- A phytosanitary certificate: this is necessary for fruit, vegetables, seeds and other plants, and is issued by the regional plant protection service.
- A health certificate: this is necessary for meat and is issued by the departmental directorate of veterinary services.
- A certificate of conformity to Russian standards (GOST-R) : it is necessary for products likely to be dangerous for health or the protection of the environment (foodstuffs, chemical products, consumer goods, etc.)
- Transport documents and the packing list

To go further, check out our service Identifique los documentos de embarque para su operación.

Free Zones
Free zones are called "free economic zones".
There are three at the present time: the port of Nakhodka in the Far East, the enclave of Kaliningrad and the Republic of Ingushetia.
For Further Information
Russian Customs Service
Portal for Customs
Ministère du Développement économique et du Commerce
Non Tariff Barriers
The certification of products, a complicated procedure, is a barrier to trade.
The agri-food sector is particularly protected with quotas on certain products and very strict phytosanitary standards.
Exporters often say the heavy and unpredictable Russian Customs procedures are a big obstacle.
Sectors or Products For Which Commercial Disagreements Have Been Registered With the WTO
Natural gas and services (liberalization), metallurgy (anti-dumping), intellectual property rights.
Assessment of Commercial Policy
Russia 's commercial policy, as seen by the WTO
Barriers to exchanges, inventoried by the United States
Barriers to exchanges, inventoried by the EU
Sanitary and phytosanitary barriers, inventoried by the EU
Survey of Russian and foreign entrepreneurs

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Learn more about How to Export to Russia on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Service Providers.
 
 

Standards

National Standards Organizations
Federal Agency for technical regulation and metrology
Test and certification Center (in Russian)
Certification research institute
Institute for information on certification and quality
Integration in the International Standards Network
Russia is a member of the International Standards Organization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML). It is a signatory to the Metre Convention and an affiliated member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation.
In the framework of the CIS, Russia is an integral part of the EuroAsian Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification. It is also a member of the European Organization for Quality, and of COOMET (EuroAsian Cooperation of National Metrological Institutions).
Obligation to Use Standards
The adoption of standards is voluntary.
Classification of Standards
GOST + 4 figures indicating the rank + 2 figures indicating the technical domain.
Assessment of the System of Standardization
The certification system is unwieldy, complicated and often changes. It is still widely based on tests, even for products which have internationally accepted certification. In addition, it is lacking in transparency, in spite of some progress over the last few years.
Nevertheless, the system is often necessary, as companies in particular are very attached to a system of standards. You are advised to call on experienced distributors or consultants.
Online Consultation of Standards
On-line catalog (in Russian)
New standards (in English)
Certification Organizations
List of certification organizations
GOST
Rostest USA

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Last Updates: May 2012

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