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Main product groups in EU imports from Russia
The EU imported a range of products from Russia in 2021, but the value of imports of energy products, including petroleum oils, natural gas, electricity and coal was higher than the value of all other products put together, accounting for 62.5 % (see Figure 1). Indeed, the value of no other product group exceeded the equivalent of 5 % of the total value of imports. This included iron and steel (4.7 %), pearls and similar products (2.9 %), wood (2.0 %), copper (1.5 %), aluminium (1.4 %), nickel, ores, slag and ash (both 1.3 %) and fertilisers (1.1 %).
In 2021, the EU imported € 89.9 billion worth of petroleum oils from Russia (see Table 1). This was much less, in terms of value, than a decade earlier (€ 143.1 billion in 2011). Over the same period, the imports of natural gas decreased from € 16.5 billion to € 17.9 billion, although with some strong annual fluctuations. Imports of coal and electricity both increased.
(€ million)
Source: Eurostat (Comext data code DS-045409)
Figures 2 to 5 take a closer look at the products listed in the table above. These figures provide additional information on the development of the import values by breaking these developments into their volume and unit value components (as a rough approximation for the development of import quantities and prices).
Between 2016 and 2021, the volume of EU imports of petroleum oils from Russia declined by 18.5 % - see Figure 2. The decline in the import value of petroleum products was more pronounced, particularly between 2013 and 2016 and then 2018 to 2020, as unit prices declined. The sharp upturn in 2021 reflected stronger demand as the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic began, which was reflected in higher prices.
The volume of EU imports of natural gas from Russia remained stable between 2011 and 2017 but increased in the following years (see Figure 3). As with petroleum oils, there was also a marked decline in the value of natural gas imports over much of the period, but with strong demand-led price rises in 2021.
The start of the EU’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic was also reflected in upturns in the volume of coal imports from Russia (see Figure 4) and of electricity (see Figure 5).
Russia was also a key partner for the EU imports of nickel (accounting for 42 % of the value of all extra-EU imports of nickel), fertilisers (29 % of the EU total), energy (26 %) and wood (23 %) – see Figure 6. Russia also accounted for more than one-tenth of the EU’s extra-EU imports of iron and steel and inorganic chemicals.
Main product groups in EU exports to Russia
The EU also exported a wide range of products to Russia in 2021. In value terms, the largest product groups exported to Russia in 2021 were machinery (21.8% of the total value of its exports to Russia) vehicles (10.0 %), pharmaceuticals (9.0 %) and electrical machinery (8.5 %) – see Figure 8. No other group had a share above 5 % of the total.
Russia was an important partner for EU exports for a number of products. In 2021, more than one tenth of the EU's exports of trees and plants as well as of oilseeds, were destined for Russia (see Figure 8).
Source data for tables and graphs
Data sources
EU data is taken from Eurostat's COMEXT database. COMEXT is the reference database for international trade in goods. It provides access not only to both recent and historical data from the EU Member States but also to statistics of a significant number of third countries. International trade aggregated and detailed statistics disseminated via the Eurostat website are compiled from COMEXT data according to a monthly process.
Data are collected by the competent national authorities of the Member States and compiled according to a harmonised methodology established by EU regulations before transmission to Eurostat. For extra-EU trade, the statistical information is mainly provided by the traders on the basis of customs declarations.
EU data are compiled according to EU guidelines and may, therefore, differ from national data published by the Member States. Statistics on extra-EU trade are calculated as the sum of trade of each of the 27 EU Member States with countries outside the EU. In other words, the EU is considered as a single trading entity and trade flows are measured into and out of the area, but not within it.
Note that data collected on the basis of Regulation (EC) No 1099/2008 relating to energy statistics are not considered in this article. More information on those statistics can be found in the Energy Dedicated Section. With regards to imports and exports of energy products, there are methodological reasons for differences between figures from energy statistics and figures presented in this article originating from international trade in goods statistics (ITGS):
- The sources for ITGS are the Intrastat declarations for intra-EU trade and the customs declarations for extra EU trade. Additional data sources like data from national grid operators can also be used for natural gas and electricity. The sources for energy statistics are special statistical surveys, administrative data and estimations.
- In ITGS the partner country is the country of consignment for intra EU imports and the country of origin for extra EU imports. In energy statistics the partner country is the country of origin for both intra- and extra EU imports.
- Imports and exports are available in quantities and values broken down by partner in ITGS while only the quantities without partner breakdown are available in energy statistics.
- In ITGS the value is collected or estimated (estimation based on collected invoice value or, for natural gas and electricity, on additional data sources) while in energy statistics the value is not collected but estimated using quantities and retail prices.
Methodology
According to EU concepts and definitions, extra-EU trade statistics (trade between EU Member States and non-EU countries) do not record exchanges involving goods in transit, placed in a customs warehouse or given temporary admission (for trade fairs, temporary exhibitions, tests, etc.). This is known as 'special trade’. The partner is the country of final destination of the goods for exports and the country of origin for imports.
Product classification
Information on commodities exported and imported is presented according to the Standard international trade classification (SITC). A full description is available from Eurostat’s classification server RAMON.
Unit of measure
Trade values are expressed in millions or billions (109) of euros. They correspond to the statistical value, i.e. to the amount which would be invoiced in case of sale or purchase at the national border of the reporting country. It is called a FOB value (free on board) for exports and a CIF value (cost, insurance, freight) for imports.
Context
Trade is an important indicator of Europe’s prosperity and place in the world. The bloc is deeply integrated into global markets both for the products it sources and the exports it sells. The EU trade policy is one of the main pillars of the EU’s relations with the rest of the world.
Because the 27 EU Member States share a single market and a single external border, they also have a single trade policy. EU Member States speak and negotiate collectively, both in the World Trade Organization, where the rules of international trade are agreed and enforced, and with individual trading partners. This common policy enables them to speak with one voice in trade negotiations, maximising their impact in such negotiations. This is even more important in a globalised world in which economies tend to cluster together in regional groups.
The openness of the EU’s trade regime has meant that the EU is the biggest player on the global trading scene and remains a good region to do business with. Thanks to the ease of modern transport and communications, it is now easier to produce, buy and sell goods around the world which gives European companies of every size the potential to trade outside Europe.
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