Sanctions: The Cost of Bypassing for Russia
The trade sanctions imposed on the Russian economy not only restrict its supplies but also increase their cost.
By Charlotte Emlinger, Kevin Lefebvre
PostBetween the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and November 2023, Russia's imports fell by 64% from sanctioning countries, while increasing by 58% from others.
This shift in suppliers came at a price: the cost of Russian imports from non-sanctioning partners rose by 21% more on average than elsewhere between 2020 and mid-2024. The increase is especially steep — 122% — for strategic goods found on the battlefield. This rise in import prices is mainly due to higher transportation costs and increased profit margins for exporters supplying the Russian market.
For more, read: Working Around Sanctions. What Cost to Russia?
This shift in suppliers came at a price: the cost of Russian imports from non-sanctioning partners rose by 21% more on average than elsewhere between 2020 and mid-2024. The increase is especially steep — 122% — for strategic goods found on the battlefield. This rise in import prices is mainly due to higher transportation costs and increased profit margins for exporters supplying the Russian market.
For more, read: Working Around Sanctions. What Cost to Russia?
Increase in the Price of Russian Imports Before and After the Invasion of Ukraine Compared to Global Import Prices (in %)
This chart compares the change in Russian import prices from 2020 to June 2024 — for each product-exporter pair, before and after the war — to that of other importing countries for the same products, from the same origins, over the same period.
Source: Emlinger & Lefebvre (2025).
Source: Emlinger & Lefebvre (2025).
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