Ukraine eclipses Russia in trade with Germany for first time

Germany's trade ties with Ukraine eclipsed its dealings with Russia for the first time, the German foreign trade association Eastern Committee of the German Economy (OA) reported on Thursday.

Russia's war against Ukraine is changing the structure of Germany's foreign trade with the region of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Russia is losing ground, while other markets are catching up.

"In September 2023, Germany's trade with Ukraine (€840 million) was for the first time greater than with Russia (€810 million)," the association said.

Germany has traditionally been one of Russia's largest trading partners.

In the last "pre-war" year, Russia's trade with Germany amounted to $56.9 billion, an increase of 35.87% ($15.1 billion) compared to 2020. Russia's exports to Germany in 2021 amounted to $29.6 billion, Russia's imports from Germany amounted to $27.3 billion.

Since 2022, Germany, in response to Russian aggression against Ukraine, began to curtail trade with Russia, relinquishing its oil and gas.

The war also changed the list of Ukraine's largest trading partners. Neighboring countries – Poland, Romania, Turkey – became the leaders.

On October 12, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Ukraine will significantly increase grain exports through Romania.

On the same day, Alexander Kamyshin, Minister of Strategic Industries, assured that after the war, weapons would become Ukraine's main export product.