Russia - EU Brief
What is the relationship between the fur industries in the EU and Russia?
Despite EU sanctions banning the export of luxury fur products to Russia, some European countries continue to trade in different types of furskins. Loopholes in the restrictions allow raw, tanned, and dressed furskins to be exported, with Finland, Lithuania, and Greece among the key suppliers.
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Sanctions on luxury fur products
Which EU countries still export to Russia?
What are the loopholes in EU - Russia sanctions?
EU sanctions and ban on luxury fur products
The EU sanctions adopted following Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine currently ban the export of luxury articles of apparel, clothing accessories, and other articles of furskins with a value over EUR 300.
Exports of fur products have decreased significantly since the sanctions were introduced in March 2022. The European Commission claims that between March 2022 and the end of December 2022, exports of fur products to Russia have decreased in value by 97% compared to the same period in 2021.
EU countries still exporting fur to Russia
However, despite this decrease, trade data reveals that a number of EU countries are continuing to export significant amounts of furskin products to Russia. Notably, in 2023, Italy exported furskin products to Russia with a value of USD 941,000. In total, furskin products to the value of USD 2,148,000 were exported from EU countries to Russia in 2023.
Loopholes: raw and tanned furskins
While the EU sanctions apply only to fur products, the export of raw furskins as well as tanned and dressed furskins to Russia is still permitted. Significant quantities of raw, tanned, and dressed furskins are still being exported to Russia from Member States including Finland, Lithuania, and Greece.
For example, despite a decreasing trend in exports since 2021, Finland still exported USD 2,488,000 worth of raw furskins to Russia in 2023.
Likewise, in 2023, Lithuania exported approximately USD 1.9 million worth of tanned or dressed furskins, while Greece exported approximately USD 1 million worth.
