Africa imports seven times more from Russia than it exports
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Financial Afrik
Africa exported $3.5 billion to Russia in 2025, compared with $24.3 billion in imports, out of total trade worth $27.8 billion. At the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, Vladimir Putin pledged to double this volume, while the African Union called for more investment and jobs, according to Financial Afrik.
Trade between Africa and Russia reached $27.8 billion in 2025, including $24.3 billion in Russian exports to the continent and $3.5 billion in African exports to Russia, Financial Afrik reports. African imports from Russia were therefore almost seven times greater than exports in the other direction.
At the third Russia-Africa Summit, held in Moscow on 28 and 29 October 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he wanted to double the volume of trade “in the very near future”. He also referred to more than 30 energy projects in 16 African countries and said that 85% of trade settlements were made in national currencies, according to Financial Afrik.
Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, the African Union’s current chair, called for the economic relationship to generate direct investment and jobs. Russia notably signed interministerial and commercial documents, while three texts were adopted in plenary, including an action plan for the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum for 2027-2029.
The summit follows the presentation of 2025 trade figures, which put Russia-Africa trade at more than $27 billion. On 1 November, Nigeria also called for stronger Russian investment and trade in national currencies, as part of discussions on economic relations between Moscow and African countries.
