How is the Russian economy doing?

Many commentators doubt that the sanctions adopted against Russia after it invaded Ukraine are effective. They point out that high energy prices caused by the sanctions have lowered Russian export volumes but increased export revenues. Furthermore, they argue that the reorientation of energy exports from Europe to other markets, including China, India and Turkey, provides Moscow with sufficient resources to finance the war in Ukraine and support the domestic economy. The ineffectiveness of the sanctions is also evident in the 30% appreciation of the rouble since the beginning of the war and in the upward revision of Russia 2022-23 GDP estimates that would only see a short-lived contraction.

Yet, the data highlight the negative impact of sanctions on the Russian economy: after the invasion of Ukraine, growth collapsed and inflation surged despite low local energy prices.

Figure 1. GDP, retail sales, and inflation (yoy)

Source: Refinitiv and EFGAM calculations, data as of 12 September 2022.

In detail, in 2022Q2, Russian real GDP growth slumped to -4.1% year-on-year (yoy) from +5% yoy in 2021Q4 (see Figure 1). From an accounting point of view, GDP was boosted by the 22% yoy drop in imports, as reported by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (CBR).¹ The drop in imports was at the root of the collapse in consumption: in July, real retail sales were more than 7% lower than a year before (see Figure 1).

Falling imports are significant because for many categories of goods, including technology and transportation, Russia is dependent on foreign supplies. The aviation sector is a case in point: the shortage of spare parts for airplanes, mostly Western-made, is such that to continue flying, Aeroflot planes must cannibalise other aircraft.² In addition, the lack of imported automotive components caused the collapse of domestic car production by 90% compared to one year ago.

The shortage of cars pushed their prices up by more than 35% yoy on average in the March-July period, contributing to the general increase in inflation. Russian CPI rose 16% yoy on average in the March-August period compared to 9% yoy in the first two months of the year (see Figure 2). In contrast to Western countries, Russian inflation mainly affects core goods and services, the prices of which are rising more than 18% yoy while energy price increases have been kept below 5% yoy due to government intervention.

Figure 2. Vehicle production and price (yoy)

Source: Refinitiv and EFGAM calculations, data as of 12 September 2022.

In the short term, growth will be depressed by the tightening of Western sanctions since June, including the stop to EU imports of petroleum products as from 2023. In addition, Russia has reduced exports of natural gas to the EU to just over 10% of pre-war levels. Since less than half of energy exports that Russia used to ship to the EU can be quickly redirected to other markets, this will cut the resources available to the Russian government to support the economy.

In the medium term, the negative effects of sanctions on the Russian economy will increase. The shortage of spare parts for existing machinery and the lack of access to Western technology will limit the potential output of key sectors in the Russian economy, including agriculture, energy and mining, and the pharmaceutical sector. Furthermore, the brain-drain resulting from the exodus of well-educated young people will also constrain GDP growth.³ Potential GDP growth seems destined to decline further from the already low rate of less than 1% per year that was registered after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the first round of Western sanctions.

¹ Imports enter with a negative sign in the calculation of the GDP because some of the goods and services consumed and invested are imported. To avoid double counting, imports must be subtracted from GDP.
² See “Exclusive: Russia starts stripping jetliners for parts as sanctions bite", Reuters, 09.08.2022.
³ See “Russia Privately Warns of Deep and Prolonged Economic Damage”, Bloomberg News, 05.09.2022.