Plastic waste exports in Russia
Russia: Plastic waste exports was 35,846 tonnes in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
35,846 tonnes
Change on year
up 39.8%
World rank
23rd
of 167 countries
All-time high
35,846 tonnes
in 2021
All-time low
600.12 tonnes
in 2003
Years of data
26
1996–2021
Plastic waste exports in Russia, 1996–2021
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2021, plastic waste exports in Russia stood at 35,846 tonnes. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of up 39.8% on the previous year and up 260.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Russia peaked at 35,846 tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 600.12 tonnes, in 2003.
Russia ranks 23rd of 167 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Russia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 10,991 tonnes | — |
| 1997 | 1,734 tonnes | -84.2% |
| 1998 | 1,750 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 1,767 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 1,078 tonnes | -39.0% |
| 2001 | 1,450 tonnes | +34.5% |
| 2002 | 1,071 tonnes | -26.1% |
| 2003 | 600.12 tonnes | -44.0% |
| 2004 | 1,655 tonnes | +175.9% |
| 2005 | 4,301 tonnes | +159.8% |
| 2006 | 5,368 tonnes | +24.8% |
| 2007 | 9,685 tonnes | +80.4% |
| 2008 | 13,487 tonnes | +39.2% |
| 2009 | 18,607 tonnes | +38.0% |
| 2010 | 16,258 tonnes | -12.6% |
| 2011 | 9,944 tonnes | -38.8% |
| 2012 | 13,536 tonnes | +36.1% |
| 2013 | 9,369 tonnes | -30.8% |
| 2014 | 10,374 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 2015 | 10,066 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2016 | 10,288 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 12,174 tonnes | +18.3% |
| 2018 | 24,739 tonnes | +103.2% |
| 2019 | 23,473 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 25,644 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 2021 | 35,846 tonnes | +39.8% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's 35,846 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 7.8× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Russia's 35,846 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,198 tonnes, 5.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4,060 tonnes | 1,734 tonnes | 10,991 tonnes | 4 |
| 2000s | 5,730 tonnes | 600.12 tonnes | 18,607 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,022 tonnes | 9,369 tonnes | 24,739 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 30,745 tonnes | 25,644 tonnes | 35,846 tonnes | 2 |
Countries ranked near Russia
- 20 Tunisia 42,528 tonnes compare
- 21 Slovakia 41,139 tonnes compare
- 22 Bangladesh 39,011 tonnes compare
- 24 Dominican Republic 31,074 tonnes compare
- 25 Australia 28,020 tonnes compare
- 26 New Zealand 27,275 tonnes compare
More environment data for Russia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.76 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.18 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -1.96 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.5219 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Russia?
- Plastic waste exports in Russia was 35,846 tonnes in 2021, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 35,846 tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was 600.12 tonnes in 2003.
- How does Russia rank for plastic waste exports?
- Russia ranks 23rd out of 167 countries with data for 2021.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 260.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Russia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.