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Strategic Lens

Critical minerals: China and Russia

First country

Second country

In 2025, China sold USD 51.6 million of critical minerals and metals to Russia and bought USD 8.89 billion from it.

Benefits

  • BothTwo-way trade in critical minerals and metals grew 187 percent, from USD 3.11 billion in 2019 to USD 8.94 billion in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Russia sold USD 8.89 billion of critical minerals and metals, against USD 51.6 million the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

The numbers

China's exports to Russia: critical minerals and metals

USD million · 2019 to 2025, calendar years, as reported by China

2019: 17.5Low 10.9 / High 87.52025: 51.6

201917.5
202010.9
202119
202252.7
202387.5
202444.8
202551.6

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026)

Data retrieved 26 September 2026

China's imports from Russia: critical minerals and metals

USD billion · 2019 to 2025, calendar years, as reported by China

2019: 3.1Low 3.1 / High 8.892025: 8.89

20193.1
20204.27
20216.05
20225.05
20234.96
20244.57
20258.89

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026)

Data retrieved 26 September 2026

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