Trade between Russia and Japan ticked up 5.76% year-on-year in May 2026,reaching about $666.8 million,or 106.9 billion yen,Japan's Finance Ministry reported. Imports from Russia rose 3.4%,while Japanese exports jumped 11.8%.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) still led Japan's imports,at 48.1% of total. But LNG imports from Russia slipped 8.7% from May 2025. In a shift,Japan bought around 364,000 barrels of Russian crude oil for first time in years . Oil tied to Sakhalin-2 project contracts,exempt from anti-Russian sanctions and G7 price cap,at about $103 per barrel. These oil imports made up 8.1% of Japan's total imports from Russia for month.
On export side,Japan's passenger car shipments to Russia climbed 13.2%,with automotive components making up 71.5% of all exports. Exports of spare parts and components rose 3.6%. But exports of motorcycles and personal watercraft dipped 1.8%.
Japan's trade figures also showed declines in other areas . Coal imports from Russia plunged 54.4%,iron and steel imports fell 10%. Grain imports dropped 27.9%,seafood imports down 15.8%. Medical product exports to Russia slashed by 93.3%,rubber products by 40.4%,pulp by 43.6% during same period.
Japan's trade with Russia shows growth in some areas,but overall picture remains complex. Specific import and export reductions reflect ongoing geopolitical tensions…
