Bilateral trade[edit]
Official figures of trade volume published by two countries contradict each other.
According to Thai sources, trade with Russia in 2008 reached 2.11 billion US dollars; Thailand has a trade deficit of 1.76 billion US dollars.[1] Russia exports mineral resources, while Thailand exports auto parts, electronics and foodstuffs.[1]
According to Russian customs service, Russian exports to Thailand in 2008 amounted to 1.23 billion, imports to 1.49 billion, leaving Russia with a deficit of 254 million US dollars.[2] In total, trade with Thailand is only 0.4% of Russian foreign trade.[2] According to Russian embassy in Bangkok, Thailand is Russia's largest trading partner in South-eastern Asia and third largest buyer of Russian ferrous metals worldwide.[3]
As recently as in 2002, Russia had a significant trade deficit and imported significant (up to half a million metric tons p.a.)[4] amounts of Thai rice.[5] In 2005 Russia imposed prohibitive protectionist tariffs on rice, then an embargo on Thai rice and a full ban on imports of Thai rice in 2007, citing pest infection.[4]
In 2004 Thailand approached Russian authorities about the prospects of buying 12 Su-30 jet fighters. Thai chicken industry, weakened by avian influenza crisis,[6] enthusiastically backed the deal, betting on reciprocal easing of Russian food import regime, but the deal never materialized.[7] In October 2008 Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat agreed to purchase Russian Mi-17 military helicopters, breaking with dependence on American weapons,[8] however his government was ousted two months later.