FX.co ★ Russia Trade Surplus Widens for 2nd Month

Russia’s trade surplus expanded to $14.43 billion in April 2026, up from $12.29 billion in the same month a year earlier, marking the largest surplus for April in four years. Exports jumped 15.6% year-on-year to $38.83 billion, driven by stronger revenues for energy exporters after the outbreak of war in the Middle East disrupted tanker traffic from the Persian Gulf and pushed global oil and gas prices higher. In addition to benefiting from higher prices, Russian oil producers gained from the easing of some U.S. sanctions as Washington moved to curb the spike in energy costs. Imports also increased, rising 7.5% to $27.4 billion.