Non-primary non-energy exports

Non-primary non-energy exports are supplies of primary crop products (grains, vegetables, fruits), chemicals, fertilizers, processed stone, cast iron and steel, non-ferrous and precious metals. This list also includes mechanical engineering products, pharmaceutical products, low-complexity finished products (flour, cereals, vegetable oils), household chemicals, clothes and shoes.

Russia

2024:2% reduction in non-resource non-energy exports to $145 billion

The volume of non-resource non-energy exports (NE) of Russia decreased by 2% in 2024 and amounted to $145 billion, which became the lowest value over the past seven years. According to an analysis based on data from the Federal Customs Service (FCS), published in early March 2025, the decline in this indicator continues for the third year in a row.

According to the press service of the Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy (Gaidar Institute), a particularly noticeable decline is observed in the category of "machinery and equipment." High-tech exports of this group of goods in 2024 were 43% lower than in 2021, which analysts attribute to the impact of sanctions and bans on the supply of technology to Russia.

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Фото: Freepik

Compared to previous periods, the situation with NE is as follows: in 2023 its volume was $148 billion, in 2022 - $190.4 billion, in 2021 - $194.2 billion, in 2020 - $160 billion, in 2019 - $154.5 billion, in 2018 - $150 billion, and in 2017 - $133.9 billion

The export of food products and agricultural raw materials (with the exception of textile) from Russia also showed a decrease in 2024 - by 1.1%, to $42.6 billion. At the same time, imports of goods of this category increased by 7%, reaching $37.7 billion.

Russia has maintained the status of a net food exporter with a surplus of $4.9 billion, but the industry is further behind the strategic goal of increasing agroexport to $55.2 billion by 2030.

The main Russian export product in 2024 remained mineral products, the supply of which abroad increased by 1.4%, to $264.1 billion. In second place are metals and products from them with an export volume of $63.7 billion, showing an increase of 6%.

The third place in the export structure was taken by agricultural products ($42.6 billion), the fourth - by chemical industry products ($27.6 billion, + 1.3%). The fifth place fell on various types of equipment and transport, sales of which increased by 2.6%, to $23.4 billion. The list of the main export categories of wood and pulp and paper products produced from it with a volume of $10.1 billion (+ 2.6%) closes^[1]

2023

4x growth since 2001 - Putin

The volume of non-resource non-energy exports of Russia for the period from 2001 to 2023 increased from $36 billion to $148 billion, showing quadruple growth. This was announced in the fall of 2024 by the president Russia Vladimir Putin at a meeting. State Council

According to Interfax, in 2025 it is planned to launch an updated national project "International Cooperation and Export," the purpose of which is to increase the volume of non-resource non-energy exports by 2030 by two-thirds compared to 2023.

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Фото: Freepik

According to the Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region Alexander Tsybulsky, the share of non-resource non-energy exports in 2023 reached 80% of the country's total exports. This sector provides 31% of the revenues of the budget system, creates more than 12 million jobs and forms a quarter of Russia's gross domestic product.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that by 2030 the volume of non-resource non-energy exports should reach ₽21,12 trillion. In particular, the export of agro-industrial products is planned to increase 1.5 times compared to 2021 - up to ₽4,7 trillion.

The development of the national project "International Cooperation and Export" is carried out by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia. The structure of the project will include four federal areas: export of industrial goods, export of products of the agro-industrial complex, development of the system of foreign economic activity and the creation of foreign support mechanisms.

The Russian President stressed that the main goal of the project is to stimulate the competitiveness of Russian companies in world markets, which should serve as a catalyst for the renewal of industry, agriculture and services, as well as contribute to the creation of modern high-paying jobs in Russia.^[2]

30% decline to $146.3 billion

Russia reduced the volume of non-resource non-energy exports (NE) to $146.3 billion in 2023 from $190.4 billion in 2022 (a 30% drop). Such data are given in the presentation of Deputy Prime Minister - Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, presented as part of Industry Day at VDNH in mid-February 2024.

NNE means the supply of grain, vegetables, fruits, chemicals, fertilizers, processed stone, cast iron and steel, non-ferrous and precious metals, low-complexity finished products (flour, cereals, vegetable oils), as well as mechanical engineering products, pharmaceutical goods, household chemicals, clothing and footwear.

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Фото: Pexels

Manturov said that the reason for the drop in income was a decrease in supply volumes, which is due to objective reasons. The Deputy Prime Minister did not specify the supply of which categories of goods decreased, however, since there was no significant decrease in the export of grain, fertilizers and metallurgy products, we are talking about various manufactured goods. They are going to restore their share of power by reorienting export flows in the direction of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that in 2021 the volume of non-resource non-energy exports was a record. The main contribution was made by metallurgy, the chemical industry and mechanical engineering. Manturov also drew attention to the fact that in 2014 the share of non-resource non-energy exports in the total supply volume was 28%, in 2023 - 35%.

According to the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, non-primary non-energy exports in 2023 to some friendly countries reached double-digit growth: in particular, supplies to Turkey increased by 36%, to China - by 26%, to Egypt - by 57%, to Brazil - by 37% and Saudi Arabia - by 87%.^[3]

2021: Up 36% to $191 billion - REC

In 2021, non-primary non-energy exports from Russia in 2021 amounted to more than $191 billion, an increase of 36% compared to 2020. Such data were released on January 20, 2022 at the Russian Export Center (REC).

According to the head of the REC Veronika Nikishina, non-primary non-energy exports from the Russian Federation at the end of 2021 turned out to be a record. The center expected a not so high figure - $185 billion.

Non-primary non-energy exports from Russia grew by a third over the year

According to Nikishina, growth was noted in almost all commodity segments, but it turned out to be the largest in black and non-ferrous metals, fertilizers, woodworking products, chemicals, plastics, energy equipment.

The growth of non-resource non-energy exports in monetary terms could be influenced by the rise in prices for some categories of goods included in the NOE. for example, the cost of wheat futures in the US in 2021 increased by 32%, from $601 to $795 per ton. And the cost of aluminum in world markets increased by more than 30%, from $2.2 thousand per ton to more than $3 thousand.

Exports of the chemical industry grew by 54%, metallurgy - by 52%, timber industry - by 43%, mechanical engineering - by 31%, food - by 23%. The main importers of Russian products were China ($15.6 billion), Kazakhstan ($14.4 billion), Belarus ($11.4 billion), Turkey ($10.9 billion) and the United States ($7.9 billion).

REC is a state institute for supporting non-resource exports (part of the group ВЭБ.РФ. According to the methodology provided on the REC website, analysts include not only products with a high level of redistribution (for example, mechanical engineering products, pharmaceutical goods, printing, clothing, etc.). It also includes non-technological goods with a low level of redistribution, for example, precious metals, steel, cast iron, grain, meat.^[4]

2020: Growth by 3.5%, to $160 billion - REC

Non-primary non-energy exports from Russia in 2020 increased by 3.5% compared to 2019 and amounted to more than $160 billion. Such data were provided by the general director of the Russian Export Center (REC) Veronika Nikishina.

According to her, non-resource non-energy exports in 2020 almost 3.5 times exceeded the 2000 figure ($46 billion) and occupied half of all exports by mail.

Non-primary non-energy exports from Russia grew by 3.5% in 2020

Non-primary non-energy exports in 2020 increased after a recession in 2019, which, among other things, was associated with the completion of large construction projects. In particular, Russia has stopped producing pipes for Nord Stream 2 and Turkish Stream.

According to the Ministry of Economic Development, exports of goods from Russia have been weakly transformed over the decade - despite the increase in the number of competitive non-primary goods, the overall complexity (degree of redistribution) of exported non-primary products has practically not changed. Since 2010, the share of non-primary goods in money has grown from 47% to 53%.

Veronika Nikishina says that the REC sees clear prerequisites for the volume of non-resource non-energy exports to continue to grow in 2021, even if it is calculated using a tougher method, including without taking into account the indicators for the export of gold.

And this is precisely the task, including the REC as a development institute, so that exporters can realize these prerequisites and opportunities to realize and increase supplies, despite difficult external circumstances that will greatly affect, she said.[5]

2019: Copper export growth to 702 kt

Main article: Copper mining and production

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