Russia, an influential member of the BRICS block, has just crossed a historic monetary cap: in February, more than half of its imports were resolved in rubles. This strategic advance, confirmed by the Central Bank, fits into a clear break with the system dominated by the dollar. While tensions with the West are intensifying, Moscow reorients its exchanges to partners tried “Friendly”which thus redefines global financial balances and accelerates its trajectory towards enhanced economic autonomy.
In short
- Russia crosses a symbolic threshold with 53.5 % of its imports now adjusted in rubles.
- This progression fits into a dedollarization strategy in the face of Western sanctions.
- Ruel payments relate in particular to Asia (49.6 %) and Latin America (45.8 %).
- Western currencies represent only 17.2 % of import regulations.
The monetary switch to Russian imports
In February 2025, the Central Bank of Russia reported that 53.5 % of Russian imports had been resolved in rubles, which was a major turning point in the country's economic strategy. This figure is up compared to December 2024, where it was 50.8 %.
Such an evolution is part of a process of voluntary reduction in dependence on Western currencies, describe in the following terms by the central bank:
The share of payments in the currencies of inmucal country continues to decrease.
The US dollar and the euro, now relegated to the background, count only for 17.2 % of import regulations.
Thus, the published statistics make it possible to identify the regions most affected by this transition, with a significant ventilation of ruble payments according to the geographic origin of imported goods:
- 49.6 % of imports from Asia were paid in rubles, which testifies to a strengthening of economic ties with this region;
- 45.8 % of imports from Latin America followed the same logic, which confirms the expansion of commercial partnerships;
- The currencies say “Inomicals” (USD and EUR), formerly dominant, continue to decline in Russian trade flows.
This monetary reorganization is not simply accounting. It responds to a strategic desire to bypass the systemic risks linked to sanctions, to protect itself against the volatility of exchange rates, and to strengthen sovereign control over international payment circuits.
Towards a discidentalization of Russian trade
Beyond the figures, this transition reflects a strategy designed to neutralize the effects of the restrictions imposed by the United States and the European Union. By massively adopting the ruble as a regulation currency for its imports, Moscow seeks to consolidate its economic sovereignty.
According to the Russian central bank, this choice “Reduces conversion losses and improves the stability of transactions”while minimizing the risks linked to any additional sanctions. This orientation also promotes the use of alternative payment systems to SWIFT, in particular for exchanges with partners in Asia, the Middle East or Latin America, some of which are members of the BRICS Alliance.
The rise of the ruble in commercial regulations also reflects a paradigm shift in the economic alliances of Russia. While Western currencies retreat, the currencies of the so -called countries “Friendly” gain ground.
It is no longer only a defensive reaction to sanctions, but a global repositioning in international economic order. In addition, this policy could strengthen cooperation with blocks such as the BRICS, where the question of dedollarization is already the subject of advanced discussions.
These developments could redefine certain global dynamics in the medium term. If other states adopt a similar posture or encourage trade in local currencies, the place of the dollar as a reference currency could gradually erode in certain international trade segments. The Russian trajectory, although motivated by specific circumstances, offers a concrete example of the alternatives being developed in a multipolar world where economic flows tend to regionalize more.
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