Russia releases update on ”secret goods” exports in 2015

Friday, March 25, 2016 - 14:33 (EET) Section: Latest news

The Russian Federal Customs Service (FCS) has disclosed updated information about exports of Russian goods under the so-called secret codes, which include dual-use goods, arms, aircraft, nuclear materials and natural gas, according to RBC.
In 2015, exports of goods, information about which is classified by the FCS, were estimated at $9.4 billion, the FCS`s press service reported in response to Russian news agency RBC`s enquiry.
On March 22, RBC published a material with reference to data from the World Trade Center (WTC) Moscow based on the FCS` statistics, which said that Russia`s exports under secret codes in 2015 amounted to $56 billion. After the publication, the WTC withdrew its calculations and provided an adjusted report. According to the update, secret exports totaled $9.4 billion.
Total Russian exports in 2015 stood at $343.4 billion, a 31% decline as compared to exports worth almost $500 billion in the previous year. The share of secret exports was 2.75% of total shipments abroad.
The WTC updated data shows that the largest share of secret exports last year was shipped to Iraq ($1.52 billion), India ($1.18 billion) and Algeria ($906 million). Last year Russia exported $225 million worth of goods under the secret codes to Kazakhstan, and $19.8 million to Ukraine.
As reported, some countries saw a significant rise in classified shipments from Russia. Thus, last year`s exports under SS code to Bangladesh skyrocketed by 36 times (to $427 million), to Algeria by 11 times, while exports to Vietnam doubled (to $568 million). Algeria, India, Vietnam, and Iraq are traditional buyers of Russian weapons.
Despite economic sanctions and political tension, trade in classified goods is also said to take place between Russia and the United States. ”Secret exports” from Russia to the U.S. increased by 78% in 2015 amounting to $456 million, according to the report. Part of the exports may relate to shipments of nuclear materials. Russian state company TENEX is said to have been supplying enriched uranium to several U.S. nuclear power plant operators, including the largest U.S. power generating company Exelon, under contracts valid until 2020.
Imports of goods to Russia under secret codes in 2015 amounted to $3.67 billion, which was 54% down from 2014 with $7.97 billion, according to Russia`s foreign trade statistics, compiled based on two indicators of the Foreign Economic Activity Commodity Nomenclature.