Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said on Friday that Turkey is now Russia’s second-largest trading partner, behind China and ahead of India, Russian media outlets reported.
Turkey first became Russia’s No. 2 trading partner in 2022, but in 2023 and 2024 Turkey had ranked third after China and India, according to Interfax.
Reshetnikov also cited a shift of trade toward what Moscow calls friendly countries, whose share in Russia’s foreign trade he put at more than 83 percent.
The remarks came at the 10th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, which took place on the campus of Far Eastern Federal University from September 3 to 6 under the theme “The Far East: Cooperation for Peace and Prosperity.” Organizers said participants came from 75 countries and territories.
According to official and forum materials, Russia–Turkey trade totaled $52.6 billion in 2024, about 7 percent lower than in 2023. Turkey’s exports to Russia were $8.56 billion and its imports from Russia were about $44.0 billion, leaving the balance strongly in Russia’s favor. In the first half of 2024, bilateral trade reached $28 billion. Reshetnikov listed machinery, chemicals and food among Turkey’s main shipments to Russia.
Ankara and Moscow say they aim to increase trade to $100 billion in the coming years, a goal reiterated in forum communications. Analysts note the deep energy component of the relationship and the risk that closer economic ties with Russia could complicate Turkey’s relations with the US and the European Union.
The forum also serves as a deal platform.
The 2024 edition closed with 313 agreements worth about 5.57 trillion rubles ($68 billion), including 27 with foreign organizations.
The 2025 forum finished with 353 agreements worth roughly 6.051 trillion rubles, exceeding last year’s total.