Page 58 - Russia OUTLOOK 2024

The volume of mutual trade among member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) gained 9.6% in January-August 2023, said chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich. Strengthening of cooperative ties among the EEU states is being observed, the official said.
In 2021, the year before the start of the war, exports from Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkey to Russia amounted to $17.4bn. In 2022, they reached $25.8bn, a 33% gain.
While trade between Russia and the EU has been cut in half thanks to sanctions and self-sanctioning, much of the former trade is still happening but is instead routed via Central Asia and other friendly countries. For example, German exports of Mercedes cars to impoverished Kyrgyzstan were up over 5,000% in 2023 y/y, as were a host of other goods. The West has tried to crack down on this sanctions-busting, but with little effect.
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