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The Chinese General Administration of Customs reported that bilateral trade between Russia and China reached $185.047 billion in the first eight months of 2026, an increase of 28.4 percent compared with the same period in 2025. Exports from China to Russia totaled $84.675 billion, rising 30.7 percent, while Russian exports to China stood at $100.372 billion, up 26.5 percent. This left Russia with a trade surplus of about $15.7 billion with China. In August, the two-way trade amounted to $25.603 billion, the customs authority said.
The figures follow trade of $159.2 billion in the first seven months, which represented a 26.3 percent increase, according to a report by bne IntelliNews citing Chinese data. China’s overall foreign trade grew 17.6 percent year on year to 34.78 trillion yuan, equivalent to about $5.13 trillion, in the January-August period, the General Administration of Customs said. Import growth of 22 percent outpaced the 14.6 percent rise in exports during that time. The strong bilateral results with Russia contributed to China’s broader trade performance.
Trade analysis from the Observatory of Economic Complexity identifies crude petroleum as the primary Russian export to China, with cars and telecommunications equipment leading Chinese sales to Russia. Growth in these areas has been notable, with Chinese car exports to Russia showing substantial gains in recent monthly data. The complementary nature of the two economies has fueled the sustained expansion in commerce.
The nations first surpassed the $200 billion annual trade goal in 2023, a target initially set for 2024 by Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, multiple economic reports have noted. Despite a modest decline in 2025, volumes rebounded strongly in 2026, placing the year on course for new highs, bne IntelliNews assessed. Enhanced rail connectivity and other logistics projects have played a role in accommodating the increased flows.
In the first seven months, railway freight between Russia and China reached 114 million tons, up 6 percent year on year, with container traffic rising 12.5 percent, according to Russian Railways. Such infrastructure support is critical for maintaining the trade momentum. The Chinese General Administration of Customs continues to monitor and report on these developments as the year progresses.
