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Russia’s Arms Exports Collapse by Half as Sanctions Bite, Rostec Chief Admits
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Russian arms exports—once bringing in around $14 billion annually before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine—have collapsed by half compared to 2022 levels, according to comments made by Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov at the Dubai Air Show 2025, Reuters reported on November 18.
Chemezov noted that Russia had long held the world’s No. 2 position in arms exports after the United States, but volumes have dropped sharply. This is “because we have had to supply most of our production to our army,” says Chemezov.
He added that Western sanctions imposed since February 2022 have complicated operations across both the civilian and defence sectors of the company, though he maintained that overall production levels remain stable.
“I assure you that in the near future we will start to recover (with exports). We have expanded our capacities and increased production, so we will be able not only to meet the needs of our military but also supply our partners,” Chemezov said.
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Reuters highlights that Russian state media have reported that Rostec’s export backlog exceeds $60 billion, though analysts caution that many of these contracts were signed years ago and may take considerable time to fulfill.
Chemezov also said there is international interest in the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet but did not provide details. He added that Rostec’s subsidiary, the United Aircraft Corporation, continues developing the MS-21 airliner—intended to replace Airbus and Boeing models domestically—with commercial service expected in 2026, pending successful testing and access to necessary components.
External research suggests the contraction may be far more severe than Rostec acknowledges. The Jamestown Foundation puts Russian arms exports at roughly $1 billion last year, down 92% from 2021. Meanwhile, SIPRI data shows a 47% drop in 2022–2024 and a cumulative 64% decline over five years, underscoring Russia’s shrinking presence in the global arms market.
Earlier, it was reported that Rosneft’s Ryazan oil refinery, one of Russia’s largest, has halted crude processing and idled its main units after a Ukrainian drone strike on November 15 damaged key facilities.
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