Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Among Top Buyers of Russian Chocolate in Early 2025

Russia exported over $170 mln worth of chocolate in the first four months of 2025, with most of it going to its closest neighbours, according to RIA Novosti. The figures are based on official trade statistics from various countries and the UN Comtrade platform.

Kazakhstan ranked first, importing $78.3 mln worth of Russian chocolate between January and April. It was followed by Azerbaijan with $23.4 mln, Uzbekistan with $21.4 mln, Kyrgyzstan with $14.7 mln and Georgia with $8 mln. Belarus is likely among the top importers as well, though its trade data has not been disclosed since 2022.

China was the sixth-largest buyer with $7.4 mln in imports, followed by Armenia ($5.7 mln), Serbia ($3 mln) and Moldova ($2.4 mln). Germany rounded out the top 10 with $2.1 mln.

The United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Latvia and Bulgaria completed the top 15, with Bulgaria showing the sharpest year-on-year increase — importing 4.1 times more than in the previous year. Imports from Saudi Arabia rose 1.8 times, while Kazakhstan, Serbia and Azerbaijan each recorded a 1.3-fold increase.

In total, Russian chocolate exports reached at least $170.7 mln from January to April 2025. According to Russia’s Agroexport centre, total chocolate exports in 2024 reached $850 mln, marking an 8% annual increase.

Kursiv also reports that Uzbek agricultural products now account for 80% of fruit and vegetable sales in Russia’s Novosibirsk Region.