Growth in China's exports to Russia slowed in October while imports from Russia picked up pace, data from Chinese customs showed on Tuesday, widening Beijing's trade deficit with Moscow.

China exported 75.7 billion yuan ($11.35 billion) worth of goods to Russia in October, up 25.2 percent from the same period last year, according to Reuters calculations based on Chinese customs data. The pace slowed from the 44.1 percent surge recorded in September.

Imports from Russia accelerate

China's imports from Russia jumped 43.9 percent in yuan terms from the same month last year to 112.44 billion yuan, accelerating from the 36.1 percent expansion in September.

The 36.74 billion yuan trade deficit in October more than doubled from that in September, as Russian energy and raw materials continued to flow into China faster than Chinese manufactured goods flowed out.

In the first nine months of the year, China's top imports from Russia by value were crude oil and natural gas, while Beijing's main exports included low-value items and cars, according to Chinese customs data.

Trade passes $242 billion in ten months

Trade turnover between Russia and China for January to October 2026 exceeded $242 billion, more than 32 percent higher than the same period last year, according to figures published by China's General Administration of Customs and reported by TopWar.

Chinese exports to Russia reached $109.26 billion over the first ten months, an increase of 33 percent, while Russian shipments to China grew by 31.5 percent to $133.23 billion. Russia sold almost $24 billion more goods to China than it purchased from it over the period.

Energy and raw materials continue to form the bulk of Russian exports to China, while Chinese exports are primarily made up of electrical goods, vehicles and chemicals.

Putin and Xi to meet at APEC

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Beijing and Moscow expect Russia's Gazprom and Chinese state oil company China National Petroleum Corporation to reach commercial agreements on the proposed Power of Baikal gas pipeline project, formerly known as Power of Siberia 2, by the end of this year, Russian state news agency RIA reported last month.

The October figures underline how far the two economies have become intertwined. China remains the largest buyer of Russian energy, while Russia has become one of China's most important suppliers of oil and gas, a relationship that has deepened as Western sanctions have pushed Moscow to redirect its exports eastward.