Latvia, which demonstrates unwavering support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, continued to supply goods to the Russian Federation: in 2025, the value of exports exceeded 962 million euros, with a significant portion, nearly half, attributed to alcohol, particularly whiskey.
This is reported by Finway
Dynamics of Latvian Exports to Russia and Public Opinion
According to information from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, in 2025, Russia remained the sixth largest export destination for Latvian goods. In comparison, in 2021, when a peak in supplies was recorded, the export volume was nearly 1.2 billion euros. Thus, over the four years of war, exports have only decreased by 19-20%.
The issue of completely halting economic cooperation with Russia and Belarus has been a focal point of discussion within the Latvian government since the beginning of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, the results of a survey conducted by Norstat, released in the autumn of 2025, indicate that only 36% of the Latvian population supports a complete ban on trade with Russia and Belarus, while 46% oppose such a move.
Transit Restrictions and Sanctions on Ore
Officials in the Latvian government point out that a significant portion of exports to Russia is conducted in the form of so-called “transit” exports — that is, these are goods that arrive in Russia not directly from Latvia, but from other EU countries through Latvian territory. According to representatives of the Ministry of Economics, a complete refusal of such trade has a moral and ethical basis; however, the practical effect would be limited, as goods would still reach Russia through other EU countries.
“Sometimes the argument is made that we need to make life difficult for Russia and impose such a ban in Latvia that we will not export to Russia, for example, alcohol. But if other countries do not do the same, it is clear that these goods will still reach Russia,” explains Jānis Saliņš, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Economics of Latvia.
The Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry notes that a complete ban on trade with Russia could lead to a loss of 1-2% of the national GDP.
It is worth noting the EU’s decision, where, at the initiative of Latvia and other Baltic countries, a complete ban on the export and transit of manganese ore to Russia was adopted. This strategic raw material can be used in Russia’s military industry, which is particularly dangerous in the context of the ongoing aggression against Ukraine. The ban became part of the 14th package of anti-Russian sanctions that EU countries implemented in the summer of 2024.
Earlier, investigators established that in 2023, Estonia and Latvia accounted for about 90% of the transit of two million tons of manganese ore supplied to Russia, with the volumes of these supplies sharply increasing since the onset of the full-scale war. It was also revealed that the export of alumina for Russian factories producing weapons for the war may involve an Irish plant, partially controlled by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, with logistics provided by an Estonian company.