Russia wants to expand its commercial presence in Africa as recent sanctions are impeding the trade with its European neighbors. A meeting on supporting Russian organizations entering African markets saw “a proposal to expand the network of trade missions to Africa in priority countries for trade”, said the vice president of the Chamber of Commerce and Russian industry, Vladimir Padalko. This plan must now be implemented by the various Russian ministries, including those of trade and foreign affairs.
The European Union was previously Russia’s largest trading partner, with more than a third of Russia’s total imports from the EU, even after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, causing a general cooling of relationships. Economic sanctions imposed since the invasion of Ukraine have already made this trade difficult and expensive. Today, EU members are considering a Ukrainian request to expel Russia from the World Trade Organization and impose tariffs on trade with Russia, further discouraging Russian businesses.
Russia currently has four trade missions in Africa, including three in North Africa, Algeria, Egypt and Morocco. Its trade mission in South Africa has been greatly enhanced by cooperation within the BRICS, but Russia’s trade with South Africa remains minimal.
In 2021, South African exports to Russia totaled just over R6 billion and imports from Russia totaled R9.2 billion. Padalko stated that Russia hopes to source some of its current imports from Europe from Africa, including tea, coffee and fruit, which make up a significant portion of South Africa’s current trade with Russia.