In 2022, Swiss authorities reported that the country sent a substantial amount of chemicals and pharmaceuticals to the Russian Federation, totaling about 2.5 billion dollars. The export figure represented roughly a 50 percent increase over the previous year, signaling a notable shift in trade patterns despite broader geopolitical tensions. This rise in drug and chemical shipments reflects the ongoing role of Switzerland as a supplier of regulated goods that require careful oversight and compliance with international export controls.
Earlier data from Swiss customs indicated that the value of exports in this category reached approximately 1.63 billion dollars in 2021, moving up to the 2022 level. The year-over-year growth in this sector remained strong, underscoring how the Swiss pharmaceutical and chemical industries adapted to evolving demand and market conditions across the region. The persistent demand for medicines and chemical products from Russia contributed to a sustained increase in bilateral trade, even as other sectors faced more rigid constraints.
Looking at the broader bilateral trade picture for 2022, Swiss total imports from the Russian Federation showed a marked decline when measured in monetary terms, dropping by about 47.5 percent compared with 2021. In contrast, Swiss exports to Russia fell by a smaller margin, declining by around 5.9 percent. These figures suggest that while imports from Russia contracted more sharply, the export side of Swiss trade with Russia remained relatively steadier, a pattern that could reflect the resilience of certain Swiss industries and the continued demand for specific Swiss-made products.
Del Vecchiu highlighted that the reductions in activity occurred across several sectors, including mechanical engineering, electronics, and the food and beverage sector as well as tobacco products. The decline in these areas points to broader shifts in supply chains and consumer demand, as well as the impact of sanctions, currency fluctuations, and regulatory changes that can influence what goods move across borders. Despite these reductions, Switzerland continued to maintain a diversified export profile, with other sectors absorbing part of the adjustment and contributing to the overall trade dynamics with Russia during 2022.
Separately, the German side of the market also reflected a contraction in exports to Russia, though the trend contrasted with the Swiss pattern in some respects. Germany’s export volume to Russia nearly doubled in the previous year, rising by about 45 percent, culminating in a total of 14.6 billion euros. This figure marks the lowest level since 2003, illustrating how various continental economies navigated the shifting regulatory environment and demand landscape. The different trajectories among these economies underscore the complexity of regional trade flows under evolving geopolitical and economic conditions.