March 15, 2021

Since March 15, car traffic will open on the pontoon bridge across the Amur River between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe. Due to the restrictions imposed by the Chinese authorities and caused by epidemiological situation, Russian exports will temporarily not be carried out.

In the import direction, cargo from China to Russia will be limited to engineering equipment, steel structures and other types of similar products intended for the construction of the Amur Gas Processing Plant. The issues of organizing the import of fruits, vegetables and other goods from China will be discussed later.

Source: Pavel Belov, RZhD Partner

Comments:

Cross-border trade between China and Russian Far Eastern territories looks more and more like a one-way street. Its turnover volumes have never been large enough. Today, with heavy decline in cargo turnover via the “Primorye-I” and “Primorye-II” international transport corridors, termination of Russian fish exports to Chinese seaports and other ‘anti-COVID’ protective measures unilaterally taken by PRC the future prospects of bilateral cross-border trade look pessimistic, at least for Russian side. This trade is important for the well-being of Russians living in the Far-Eastern territories, especially the supply of vegetables, fruits and consumer goods. If the confidence in the stability of the Chinese deliveries is lost Russian importers would have to shift to ASEAN and other reliable suppliers.