"Booming Trade with China Boosts Russia's Economy and Military"

Shipping containers from China are piling up in Russia due to a surge in Chinese goods flowing into the country, resulting in a surplus of 150,000 containers that importers are struggling to return. The deepening trade imbalance between Russia and China, particularly in the type of products exchanged, has contributed to this container glut. Bilateral trade between the two countries has risen by 32% in the first eight months of 2023, with China's exports to Russia increasing by 63.2%. The growing trade ties have shifted Russian energy trade eastward and sparked criticism that China's economic support is backing Russia's war on Ukraine.