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UPCOMING WEBINAR - ECUADOR RUNOFF: SHIFTING VOTES AND THE ROAD AHEAD...

Industrial growth to moderate this year
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 27 Mar 2025

Rosstat reported that in 2M22, the industrial output grew by a mere 1.2% y-o-y, which looked weaker than January’s 2.2% y-o-y growth. In February alone, the y-o-y growth remained almost non-existent (up by 0.2%). The unimpressive February growth figure largely stems from the base effect, as 2024 ...

Russia: a brief market watch
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 27 Mar 2025

After the USD/RUB shortly moved close to the 80 mark, the ruble weakened slightly, and in the past ten days, the USD/RUB rate fluctuated within the 80-85 range. It won’t be surprising to see some more ruble weakening in the weeks ahead as the current level looks too strong from the fundamental po...

Russian macro: a difficult year ahead
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · Forecast · 18 Mar 2025

According to Rosstat’s publications, after having soared in December 2024, the Russian economy posted comparatively unimpressive results in January, as the output of the five basic sectors grew by 3.1% y-o-y. In December, it grew by 7.5%. This indicator is a monthly measure of combined activities...

Revised balance of payments statistics shed some light on recent FX trends and budget revenues
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 13 Mar 2025

The Central Bank just published its flash estimate of the key constituencies of the balance of payments for 2M25 and revised data for 4Q24. The revisions appeared quite significant, and the CBR referred to some updated foreign trade statistics it recently collected. We recently mentioned on sever...

Russia: a brief market watch
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 13 Mar 2025

The Russian market remains positive, assuming the possibility of a peace settlement in Ukraine. The latter encouraged investors to bet on further strengthening of the ruble, and it went from R/$89 to R/$85 after the start of negotiations between the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia. However, other ...

More evidence on growth deceleration in January, but questions remain
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 06 Mar 2025

In addition to recently published industrial statistics that hinted at the possibility of a sudden deceleration of economic growth, Rosstat recently provided more color on the matter. According to the statistical service, the output of the five basic sectors (B5 represents industry, agriculture, ...

Russia: a brief market watch
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 27 Feb 2025

The Russian market moved up on the wave of optimism regarding the potential resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. Many investors think it may happen in the coming months, and some sanctions on Russia could be removed in the aftermath. Moreover, this factor is treated as disinflationary, which ma...

Russian industry decelerates sharply in January
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 27 Feb 2025

Rosstat reported that the industrial output was up by 2.2% y-o-y in January, which appeared unexpected as it was up by 8.2% y-o-y in December. Seasonally and calendar-adjusted industrial output contracted by 3.2% m-o-m. It might be too early to say that growth trends changed abruptly last month, ...

Revised 2023-2024 macro data show steady growth, but things could change this year
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · Report · 18 Feb 2025

According to Rosstat’s flash estimate, the country’s GDP grew by 4.1% and reached R200,039.5 bln, implying it climbed to $2,155 bln in dollar terms. Both the nominal figure and the growth rate appeared slightly higher than we anticipated—not least due to revisions of the historical data. We expec...

Russia: a brief market watch
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 13 Feb 2025

Market sentiment improved significantly in the past two weeks as investors started to speculate on a possibility of de-escalation in Ukraine. The conversation between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin was considered an important indicator of the high likelihood of this scenario. As a result, the ruble appr...

Federal budget performance in January hints that economic growth gradually decelerates, inflation to remain high
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 12 Feb 2025

The Ministry of Finance reported that the Federal Budget was in deficit in January despite the fact that its total revenues grew by 11.4%, i.e., above inflation, albeit not much. Oil-and-gas (O&G) revenues were up by 16.8% y-o-y, while non-O&G revenues increased by 9.3% y-o-y, which was below inf...

Economic growth remained decent in 2024
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 10 Feb 2025

Rosstat reported that in 2024, the country’s GDP reached R200039.5 bln and grew by 4.1%. The growth figure appeared slightly higher than our forecast and it looks as though some acceleration of economic growth occurred in December (as monthly sectoral economic statistics showed). We think that th...

Russia: a brief market watch
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 30 Jan 2025

The ruble appreciated by 3.6% since the start of the year despite the drop in oil prices. The latter resulted from the market reaction to some of Mr. Trump’s statements, which called for OPEC to lower energy prices. In our view, the main reason for the ruble to strengthen was the repatriation of ...

Russian macro: muddling through in a stormy external environment
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · Report · 24 Jan 2025

Rosstat will soon publish the economic statistics for full-year 2024, and after that it will be a good time to have a fresh look at Russia’s economic growth perspectives in 2025 and beyond. At the same time, the recent statistical releases from the CBR and Minfin have already hinted at changes in...

Federal budget deficit in December widened as expected, while the current account unexpectedly turned red
RUSSIA ECONOMICS · In Brief · 21 Jan 2025

The Ministry of Finance reported that in 2024, as a whole, the federal budget was in deficit of about RUB3.5 trln, which should be below 1.8% of GDP, i.e., a mere percentage of GDP. Revenues and expenditures looked close to what the government targeted, albeit actual revenues appeared below the a...