Latvian exports to Russia and Belarus grow 23.1% in eight months

RIGA - In the first eight months of this year, Latvia exported EUR 800,611 million worth goods to Russia and Belarus, which is an increase of 23.1 percent, or EUR 150.192 million, compared to the first eight months of 2025, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP).

Of that total, Latvia exported EUR 706.911 million worth of goods to Russia, which is 24.2 percent, or EUR 137.687 million, more than during the same period last year, while exports to Belarus totaled EUR 93.701 million, representing an increase of 15.4 percent, or EUR 12.504 million.

Data from the CSP show that in the first eight months of 2026, Latvia’s main exports to Russia consisted of food industry products, beverages, alcohol, tobacco, and its industrial substitutes, worth EUR 343.009 million.

Of this total, beverages and alcohol accounted for EUR 309.503 million. Similarly, in the first eight months of this year, Latvia exported to Russia EUR 124.286 million worth of textiles and textile products, products from the chemical industry and related sectors worth EUR 87.802 million, as well as footwear, headwear, umbrellas, and other items worth EUR 64.035 million.

At the same time, the total value of imports from Russia and Belarus decreased by 48.3 percent, or EUR 44.874 million, compared to the corresponding period in 2025, and amounted to EUR 48.035 million.

In the first eight months of this year, Latvia imported EUR 30.063 million worth of goods from Russia, which is 36.9 percent, or EUR 17.608 million, less than in the same period a year ago, while imports from Belarus totaled EUR 17.973 million, a 2.5-fold, or EUR 27.266 million decrease.

The CSP notes that in August 2026, compared to August 2025, exports to Russia increased by 7.1 percent to EUR 98.817 million. This increase was primarily driven by a 62.5 percent rise n exports of products from the chemical industry and related sectors.

Imports from Russia in August 2026, compared to August 2025, decreased by 67.7 percent to EUR 1.089 million. The decline in imports was also primarily driven by a decrease in imports of products from the chemical industry and its related sectors, which fell by 95.2 percent, or EUR 1.4 million.

Exports to Belarus increased by 8.9 percent and was valued at EUR 13.2 million. The rise was primarily affected by increased export of products of the chemical and allied industries, which grew by 51.9 percent or EUR 2.1 million. Imports from Belarus rose by 22.6 percent and was valued at EUR 3.1 million. The main cause for this increase was higher import of products of the chemical and allied industries, which went up by EUR 0.7 million.

As LETA reported, in the first eight months of this year, Latvia exported goods worth EUR 14.011 billion, which is 7.9 percent or EUR 1.028 billion more than in the corresponding period of 2025, while imports totaled EUR 16.765 billion, an increase of 9.2 percent or EUR 1.412 billion, according to data from the CSP.