The Russian-Thai Business Council traditionally analyzed the main economic indicators of cooperation between the two countries at the beginning of the new year: economic relations between Russia and Thailand in 2025 confirmed their stability and ability to develop even in the context of restructuring global trade chains.
According to the Customs Department of the Kingdom of Thailand, the bilateral trade turnover increased by 11.4% by the end of the year and reached $1.758 billion. This is the second year in a row when trade between the two countries has demonstrated a steady positive trend.
The growth was balanced on both sides. Russian exports to Thailand increased by 12.2% to $791.2 million, while imports from Thailand increased by 10.7% to $967 million. This structure indicates the formation of a more stable and diversified model of bilateral trade, in which high demand remains for both raw materials and industrial and agricultural goods.
Traditionally, mineral fertilizers remain the key driver of Russian exports: their shipments in 2025 amounted to $299.4 million, showing an increase of 2%. At the same time, industrial and metallurgical goods showed the most noticeable dynamics. Exports of aluminum and products made from it increased by 37.5% and reached $113.2 million, rubber and rubber – by 29.9%, to $84.7 million. The supply of fish and crustaceans increased significantly – by 37.3%, to $65.8 million.
The metallurgical industry deserves special attention. Shipments of Russian ferrous metals to Thailand increased by a record 66.1% and amounted to $55.5 million. This is the highest growth rate among the key commodity positions of Russian exports to the country. By the end of the year, Russia ranked 12th among suppliers of ferrous metallurgy products to Thailand, ahead of countries such as Germany, Australia, Sweden, Canada, Italy and the United Arab Emirates. For the Russian steel industry, this is not only a quantitative but also a qualitative result, reflecting the strengthening of its competitive position in the Southeast Asian market.
The investment component of the bilateral relations is no less significant. According to the Bank of Thailand, the volume of accumulated Russian direct investments in the country's economy reached $1.156 billion as of the third quarter of 2025. Over the past seven years, this figure has more than doubled, from $500.2 million in 2018, demonstrating the consistent and long–term presence of Russian capital.
In terms of accumulated investments, Russia ranks 21st among investor countries in Thailand. At the same time, Russian figures are comparable to investments in India ($1.218 billion) and Luxembourg ($1.263 billion) and more than double the investments of the United Arab Emirates ($569 million). In the third quarter of 2025, the net inflow of Russian direct investment (balance) amounted to $10.79 million.
Ivan Demchenko, Chairman of the Russian-Thai Business Council:
“The combination of trade and investment indicators suggests the formation of a mature economic bond between Russia and Thailand. The growth of trade turnover for the second year in a row, the strengthening of the positions of Russian industrial sectors and the steady increase in investments create the basis for further expansion of cooperation, primarily in the areas of industrial cooperation, processing, logistics and high–tech industries. In this context, Thailand is becoming more and more clearly not just a sales market for Russia, but a strategic economic partner in Southeast Asia.”
Reference:
The Russian-Thai Business Council is a key Russian platform that promotes business and investment development, strengthens business contacts and creates conditions for mutually beneficial partnership and long–term cooperation between Russia and Thailand. Over the years, the Council has become an important platform for strengthening and developing economic and cultural ties between the two countrie Russian-Thai Business Council is a key Russian platform that promotes business and investment development, strengthens business contacts and creates conditions for mutually beneficial partnership and long–term cooperation between Russia and Thailand. Over the yethers.
According to the Customs Department of the Kingdom of Thailand, the bilateral trade turnover increased by 11.4% by the end of the year and reached $1.758 billion. This is the second year in a row when trade between the two countries has demonstrated a steady positive trend.
The growth was balanced on both sides. Russian exports to Thailand increased by 12.2% to $791.2 million, while imports from Thailand increased by 10.7% to $967 million. This structure indicates the formation of a more stable and diversified model of bilateral trade, in which high demand remains for both raw materials and industrial and agricultural goods.
Traditionally, mineral fertilizers remain the key driver of Russian exports: their shipments in 2025 amounted to $299.4 million, showing an increase of 2%. At the same time, industrial and metallurgical goods showed the most noticeable dynamics. Exports of aluminum and products made from it increased by 37.5% and reached $113.2 million, rubber and rubber – by 29.9%, to $84.7 million. The supply of fish and crustaceans increased significantly – by 37.3%, to $65.8 million.
The metallurgical industry deserves special attention. Shipments of Russian ferrous metals to Thailand increased by a record 66.1% and amounted to $55.5 million. This is the highest growth rate among the key commodity positions of Russian exports to the country. By the end of the year, Russia ranked 12th among suppliers of ferrous metallurgy products to Thailand, ahead of countries such as Germany, Australia, Sweden, Canada, Italy and the United Arab Emirates. For the Russian steel industry, this is not only a quantitative but also a qualitative result, reflecting the strengthening of its competitive position in the Southeast Asian market.
The investment component of the bilateral relations is no less significant. According to the Bank of Thailand, the volume of accumulated Russian direct investments in the country's economy reached $1.156 billion as of the third quarter of 2025. Over the past seven years, this figure has more than doubled, from $500.2 million in 2018, demonstrating the consistent and long–term presence of Russian capital.
In terms of accumulated investments, Russia ranks 21st among investor countries in Thailand. At the same time, Russian figures are comparable to investments in India ($1.218 billion) and Luxembourg ($1.263 billion) and more than double the investments of the United Arab Emirates ($569 million). In the third quarter of 2025, the net inflow of Russian direct investment (balance) amounted to $10.79 million.
Ivan Demchenko, Chairman of the Russian-Thai Business Council:
“The combination of trade and investment indicators suggests the formation of a mature economic bond between Russia and Thailand. The growth of trade turnover for the second year in a row, the strengthening of the positions of Russian industrial sectors and the steady increase in investments create the basis for further expansion of cooperation, primarily in the areas of industrial cooperation, processing, logistics and high–tech industries. In this context, Thailand is becoming more and more clearly not just a sales market for Russia, but a strategic economic partner in Southeast Asia.”
Reference:
The Russian-Thai Business Council is a key Russian platform that promotes business and investment development, strengthens business contacts and creates conditions for mutually beneficial partnership and long–term cooperation between Russia and Thailand. Over the years, the Council has become an important platform for strengthening and developing economic and cultural ties between the two countrie Russian-Thai Business Council is a key Russian platform that promotes business and investment development, strengthens business contacts and creates conditions for mutually beneficial partnership and long–term cooperation between Russia and Thailand. Over the yethers.