Plastic waste exports in Russia
Russia: Plastic waste exports was 35,846 tonnes in 2021. ◆ Volatile
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.
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
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 2,576 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 17.93 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 60 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 1.96 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 263.08 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.4996 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 416.94 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.6907 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 1 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 89.18 Mt CO2e (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
The amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.