Transit Transports between Russia and the EU

Abstract

The European Union is an important trade partner for Russia. For example, in 2000 more than one third of Russia's foreign trade was with EU countries. By contrast, only a little over 1% of total EU foreign trade was with Russia. A quick look at the map shows that a substantial part of trade between Russia and the EU has to be transported through the region located between Russia and the European Union. Following substantial statistical work we present in this study summary statistics about volumes as well as previously unpublished statistics on values of transit transport flows and their distribution by different corridors between Russia and the EU. The largest transit transport flows (more than 60% of volumes and more than half in value terms) between Russia and the EU use the Central European transport corridors. The statistics also reveal that average unit value of transit merchandise from the EU to Russia was more than seven times higher in 1999 than the average unit value of transit merchandise from Russia to the EU. The obvious reason is the structure of trade between Russia and the EU: Russia exports mainly fuels and raw materials but imports manufactured high-value products.