Russia: advice on imports and exports
by air and sea freight

Covering more than 17 million square kilometres, Russia is the world’s largest country by land area. Its natural resources give it substantial economic potential. The earlier trade overview described its economic transformation up to 2014; this must now be read against the EU restrictions adopted since 2014 and expanded following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Imports, exports and transport services involving Russia are subject to extensive and changing sanctions and export-control requirements. A transport enquiry is not confirmation that the goods may be traded or that a route can be used. Sea, Air, Transport & Service can assess your requirement against the goods, parties, end-use, route and applicable restrictions before deciding whether it can be accepted. Historically, commercial activity has been concentrated in European Russia, where much of the population and economic output is located.

Assessing Russia-related exports, imports and removals

The existing partner-network overview identifies contacts in the two main metropolitan areas of European Russia— Moscow and St Petersburg. Any use of partners or onward connections must first pass the applicable compliance and operational checks. You may also ask us to assess requirements involving other cities and regions, including Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Yekaterinburg or Omsk. The same case-by-case review applies to commercial imports, exports and personal removals.

Road transport has historically been important for European Russia. Current access restrictions, carrier eligibility and border arrangements must be checked before it is considered. Potential sea freight or air freight options also depend on current legal and operational availability; the listed gateways are reference information, not confirmation of a bookable service. We assess possible transport modes and combinations against your requirements and, where the transaction is permissible, coordinate the necessary formalities and customs process. These checks are particularly important for exports to or imports from Russia. We do not arrange prohibited transactions or routes intended to circumvent sanctions.

How to contact us

Contact us for information and an initial assessment of your Russia-related transport requirement. Use our enquiry form, send an email or telephone us. A member of our team will review the details with you. Any quotation or acceptance remains subject to the necessary compliance and route checks.

Russia’s economy: historical context before the current restrictions

• The earlier overview estimated Russia’s 2014 GDP at just over US$2 trillion and placed it eighth worldwide, after Brazil. These are historical figures, not a current economic ranking;
• Russia’s economy has relied heavily on gas, oil, coal and mineral ores. Its development also reflects the transition from a centrally planned economy towards a market economy;
• in 2013, before the sanctions described in that overview, foreign trade represented around 40% of GDP, with oil and gas exports accounting for a substantial share;
• Germany was one of Russia’s major trading partners in 2013. As a customer, particularly for oil and gas, it ranked fourth after the Netherlands, China and Italy; as a supplier it ranked second after China;
• German exports to Russia were valued at €36 billion in 2013, with imports at €40 billion. These historical values must not be taken as evidence of the present trade structure or of the permissibility of a particular shipment.

Selected airport references in Russia