Germany’s Imports from Russia Plunge 95% Amid War and Sanctions

Sharp Decline in Bilateral Trade Signals Long-Term Economic Separation

Germany’s economic ties with Russia have undergone a historic collapse since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. New data released by the Federal Statistical Office in 2025 confirms that imports from Russia have plummeted by 95% compared to pre-war levels, a dramatic fall that highlights the lasting impact of geopolitical tensions and sweeping sanctions.

In 2024, Germany imported goods worth only €1.8 billion from Russia. This figure stands in stark contrast to 2021, the last full year before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when imports totaled €33.1 billion. Russia, once a major supplier—particularly in the energy sector—has now become nearly irrelevant in Germany’s import portfolio. In fact, Russia’s share of Germany’s total imports dropped to just 0.1% in 2024, down from 2.8% in 2021.

Sanctions and Policy Changes Drive the Collapse

The sharp contraction in trade is largely the result of 17 rounds of sanctions imposed by the European Union since early 2022. These measures include bans on importing certain categories of Russian goods, particularly fossil fuels, as well as restrictions on exporting industrial and dual-use technologies to Russia. Additional sanctions targeted the Russian financial sector, limiting access to European capital markets and excluding Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system.

While imports saw the most dramatic decline, German exports to Russia also dropped sharply. In 2024, Germany exported €7.6 billion worth of goods to Russia, representing a 71.6% decrease compared to the €26.6 billion recorded in 2021. The restrictions hit key sectors such as machinery, automotive components, and industrial tools, with export bans on items deemed critical for Russia’s military and energy production capacities.

Trade Reversal: From Record Deficit to Export Surplus

The restructuring of trade flows produced a notable financial shift for Germany. In 2024, Germany achieved its largest trade surplus with Russia since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Exports exceeded imports by €5.8 billion. This marked only the fourth time in post-Soviet history that Germany recorded a trade surplus with Russia, following similar occurrences in 1993, 2020, and 2023.

This is a stark turnaround from 2022, the year the war began, when Germany registered a record trade deficit of €21.8 billion with Russia. At that time, energy prices surged globally and the remaining German imports—especially oil and gas—skyrocketed in value, even as export volumes dropped due to early sanctions.

Germany’s Economic Realignment Away from Russian Dependence

The trade collapse underscores a broader economic and strategic shift in Germany’s international trade policy. The country, which once relied heavily on Russian gas, has diversified its energy sources and restructured its supply chains. German officials have emphasized the importance of reducing economic dependency on authoritarian regimes, particularly in the context of critical infrastructure and raw materials.

This shift is mirrored at the European level. Across the EU, imports from Russia fell by 78% between 2021 and 2024, declining from €163.6 billion to €36 billion. Russia’s overall share of the EU’s imports fell from 7.7% to 1.5% over the same period, illustrating the regional scale of the decoupling. The EU is now preparing an 18th sanctions package, which is expected to include further restrictions on trade and maritime logistics, including measures targeting Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.”

Trade Severance Carries Long-Term Implications

While short-term disruptions have been partially mitigated through alternative trade partnerships and domestic adjustments, the long-term implications of this economic rupture remain significant. Germany’s decoupling from Russia is not only a response to the war but part of a broader strategy to reduce vulnerabilities in global supply chains.

The impact is not symmetrical. Russia has lost a major European trading partner, while Germany, despite initial shocks, has reoriented much of its trade infrastructure. With further sanctions under consideration and no resolution to the war in sight, the downward trajectory of German-Russian trade is expected to continue.