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According to the results of July 2023, Japan increased grain imports from Russia by 5679.4% compared to July last year, according to trade statistics released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance.

Imports of fish and fish products for the same period decreased by 35.3% compared to the same month a year earlier. Vegetable imports fell by 30%.

Imports of Russian liquid natural gas decreased by 53.6% in July, imports of coal sank by 72.9%, and non—ferrous metals - 69.5%. The purchase of non–ferrous metal ore also decreased by 93%, as well as iron and steel products by 52.2%.

The export of vehicles to Russia increased by 84% until August 1, 2023, while the supply of Japanese spare parts fell by 44.4%. In addition, the export of medical products increased by 1123%.

In general, the volume of Japanese exports to Russia in July 2023 increased by 25% to $ 347.85 million compared to the same period a year earlier, imports from Russia decreased by 69.6% to $ 367.31 million.

Japan imposed sanctions on a total of 987 Russian citizens, including 304 people from the new regions and Crimea, 129 organizations, 12 banks.

There is a ban on the supply of luxury goods to Russia, including luxury cars, expensive alcoholic beverages, cosmetics, leather goods. In addition, it is prohibited to export high-tech equipment for oil refining, certain types of medical products, semiconductors and many other types of products. There is also a ban on the purchase of gold, machine tools, some types of wood, vodka in Russia.

In general, the trade turnover between Japan and Russia in the first half of 2023 decreased by 41.65% compared to the same period last year, to 806.8 billion yen (about $5.7 billion). 

Since August 9, Japan has banned the supply of not only cars with an engine capacity of more than 1.9 liters, diesel cars, hybrid cars and electric vehicles. The list also includes railway locomotives and trains, tires for large-sized vehicles, steel, zinc, lead and some other products, iron and steel, boilers and materials that can be used to support industrial activity in Russia.

In addition, it is prohibited to import light commercial vehicles, including small-capacity (with an engine capacity of up to 660 cubic meters. see) trucks and passenger-and-cargo station wagons, such as the Nissan AD. Finally, the ban also applies to car keys, which sellers sometimes sent separately.

Before the sanctions were imposed on August 1, in July 2023, deliveries of cars from Japan to Russia almost doubled, they increased by 84%. According to data published by the Japanese Ministry of Finance. Experts confirmed that the Russians tried to have time to import as many cars as possible before the ban came into force.

In July, 33 192 vehicles arrived in Russia, which is 54% more than a year earlier. At the same time, sales of passenger cars amounted to 32,116 units. At the same time, in July, Japan reduced the supply of spare parts and components for cars by 44.4%.

Russia has been a major importer of Japanese cars and other vehicles for many years. 

In 2021, Japan exported 1.22 million cars, and Russia was the largest importer — it accounted for 13.27%. The UAE followed with 10.9%, New Zealand with 8.52% and Chile with 7.21%.

In the first 10 months of 2022, Japan exported a little more than 836 thousand used cars — and Russia's share was already 19.48%, and the share of the UAE was 13.66%.

In 2022, Japan exported to Russia 204 thousand cars with mileage worth about 250 billion yen — about 1.8 billion dollars. This accounted for 26% of Japan's total revenue from the export of used cars.

In April 2022, Japan already imposed sanctions on automobile exports: at that time, Russia was banned from importing new premium cars worth more than 6 million yen - that is, about 43 thousand dollars. In June 2022, Japan added a ban on the export of trucks, dump trucks and bulldozers to these restrictions.

From August 9, 2023, it will be impossible to import both new and used cars with an engine capacity of more than 1.9 liters, as well as electric cars and hybrid cars and tires for large transport equipment to Russia. Vans and passenger cars were also banned, according to autotraders.

How will this affect the Russian automotive market

As of 2021, there are 4 million right—hand drive cars registered in Russia - 7.6% of the entire automotive market of the country. Most of them are in the Far Eastern Federal District — three quarters of the fleet. Next comes the Siberian Federal District — every fourth car has the right steering wheel there. It is unlikely that people will give up such cars: they have been driving them here for more than 30 years. There are two possible scenarios.

Circumvention of sanctions. Both sides — Russia and Japan — will find a way to transport cars through third countries. Autotraders have been talking about this for a long time: among the options are South Korea, Malaysia, China and even Mongolia. If this works out, people will still be able to buy any right-hand drive cars, but they will have to wait longer and pay more.

Compliance with sanctions. The Japanese government will harshly stop all attempts by Japanese motor graders to circumvent the sanctions. Traders will be happy to send an electric car or minivan through another country — but there is nothing they can do. Buyers will have to comply with the sanctions and pay attention only to cars that are not subject to restrictions, including previously unpopular options. Their price at Japanese auctions will increase significantly, and the cars on the sanctions list will fall.

In any case, the situation will affect many residents of the Far East. That's who might get hurt:

1. Brokers who help with customs clearance of cars.

2. Railway workers and drivers of car carriers engaged in their transportation.

3. Bankers who earn money by transferring money to Japan.

4. Employees of hotels, catering and infrastructure that serves distillers and those who came to pick up the car themselves. 

In total, the Japanese government added 758 items to the list of products prohibited for export to the Russian Federation — and there are not only cars, but also various fibers and tubes, gypsum, cement, chemical industry products, yachts and sports vessels, and much more.

According to the Japanese government, the new bans will affect 20% of Japanese exports to Russia in value terms as of 2021. In 2021, Japan exported almost $ 8 billion worth of goods to Russia, that is, the new bans will reduce exports by $ 1.598 billion. This is about a third of Japan's exports to Russia in 2022.

Source: https://ria.ru/20230817/yaponiya-1890521034.html?utm_source=yxnews&utm_medium=desktop ; https://iz.ru/1560261/2023-08-17/minfin-iaponii-soobshchil-ob-uvelichenii-importa-zernovykh-iz-rf-v-iiule?utm_source=yxnews&utm_medium=desktop