Mr. Deripaska (founder of RUSAL) condition for sharp increase in Russia-China trade volume

The trade volume between Russia and China could surge sharply to $400 billion, but this would require a significant increase in Chinese investments in Russia. RUSAL outlined this condition in his Telegram channel.

According to him, many economists are currently assessing the potential for expanding mutual trade between the two countries. "To achieve this, a substantial increase in direct Chinese investments into Russian projects and enterprises is necessary — at least 160 billion yuan ($21.77 billion at the current exchange rate annually," the billionaire stated.

In 2024, trade between Russia and China grew by 1.9%, reaching a new record of $244.81 billion. However, the growth rate lagged significantly behind the levels seen in 2022 and 2023. This is attributed primarily to difficulties in cross-border settlements due to intensified U.S. sanctions pressure last year, initiated by the Joe Biden administration.