24/11/2023 (Agence Europe) – Since the imposition of European sanctions in response to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, trade between the European Union and Russia has fallen “considerably”, as noted by the EU’s statistical office (Eurostat) on Friday 24 November. Between February 2022 and September 2023, Russia’s share of extra-EU imports fell from 9.5% to 2.0% and its share of extra-EU exports from 3.8% to 1.4%. Between the third quarter of 2021 and the third quarter of 2023, Russia’s share of extra-EU gas imports fell by 27%, petroleum oils by 25%, nickel by 14% and iron and steel by 9%. In contrast, Russia’s share of extra-EU fertiliser imports initially fell from 27% to 17% until the third quarter of 2022, before rebounding to 27% in the third quarter of 2023. (MB)