Russian exports to China have shown steady growth in recent years, but their structure remains predominantly based on raw materials. Oil, gas, metals, agricultural raw materials and natural resources form the basis of supplies. The share of high-value-added and highly processed products in total exports remains limited, despite the declared interest of the Chinese side in such goods.
Experts note that there is potential for "expensive" exports to China, but it requires a systematic approach, from certification and logistics to product positioning and technological partnerships. Natalia Prokazova, General Director of the Weconn Foreign Economic Activity Agency, emphasizes:
"If the goal is not just to trade raw materials, but to build sustainable export chains with added value, it is necessary to rely on refining, branding and long—term market presence."
The agro-industrial sector remains one of the key areas. In China, demand is growing not for raw materials, but for finished and semi-finished products. This applies to food products with deep processing, branded goods, specialty foods and semi-finished products. Russian producers have a sufficient raw material base, but the main increase in marginality is possible precisely at the processing stage.
A separate place is occupied by the export of fish and seafood. China is one of the world's largest consumers of these products. In the first ten months of 2025, Russian seafood exports to China increased by 15 percent and reached $2.5 billion, which put Russia in second place among suppliers after Ecuador. At the same time, the structure of demand is changing: China prefers fillets, surimi and ready-made products rather than unprocessed fish. Thus, the supply of pollock fillets increased 3.5 times, surimi — by 80 percent.
Meat products remain a promising but more complex area. After the lifting of long-term restrictions on imports of Russian pork at the end of 2023, exports in 2024 amounted to about 29 thousand tons, and in 2025 they may grow to 80 thousand tons. However, the key limitation remains the narrow range of certified suppliers admitted to the Chinese market.
Pharmaceuticals and biotechnologies form a separate vector of cooperation. This is not so much about direct exports as about joint production and technology transfer. For example, Russian companies enter into agreements with Chinese partners for the production of biopharmaceuticals and monoclonal antibodies.
According to Natalia Prokazova, "China increasingly views Russia not as a supplier of raw materials, but as a technological partner, especially in niche pharmaceutical segments."
Confectionery remains the most dynamic export category. In the first five months of 2025, the supply of sweets from Russia to China increased by 25 percent in value terms. Cookies and waffles are in the lead, which are actively promoted through Chinese retail chains and marketplaces.
Thus, increasing exports of high-value-added products to China requires a transition from a model of raw materials supply to a model of processing, joint production and adaptation of goods to the needs of the Chinese consumer.
