The question Turkish exporters ask most about the Russian market is this: “Is exporting to Russia banned?” The short answer is clear: no, exporting to Russia is not banned in general. Türkiye is not a party to the Western sanctions imposed on Russia, and many Turkish-origin products continue to be exported to Russia legally and openly. The real issue is not “permission” — it is entering the Russian market in a compliant way, and that is the barrier that actually stops businesses.
The short answer: exporting to Russia is not banned
As of 2026, trade between Türkiye and Russia is actively ongoing. Annual bilateral trade runs into the tens of billions of dollars, and Russia is among the top countries in both Türkiye’s imports and exports. In other words, there is no blanket export ban. A wide range of products — from food to textiles, furniture to cosmetics, building materials to machinery — can be shipped to Russia through normal commercial channels.
Even so, many manufacturers see the word “sanctions” in the headlines, assume export is entirely impossible, and miss a growing market. This article explains where the “banned” perception comes from, what is genuinely restricted, and the real precondition for selling in Russia.
Why does the “export to Russia is banned” perception exist?
The main reason is that the sanctions imposed on Russia by the European Union and the United States appear constantly in the media. Those sanctions bind Western countries’ own companies; they prohibit the sale of certain product groups (especially high technology, defence, and dual-use goods) to Russia. When a Turkish exporter sees these headlines, they conclude “so I can’t send anything.”
In reality, sanctions are product-specific and tied to who enforces them. Because Türkiye is not part of that sanctions regime, ordinary consumer and industrial products that are not on the sanctions lists can be exported legally from Türkiye to Russia.
Türkiye’s position: not a party to the sanctions
Türkiye has not declared a unilateral export embargo against Russia. That does not mean trade is unsupervised: Türkiye acts carefully regarding the sale — and the transit through Türkiye — of sensitive and dual-use goods that appear on EU and US sanctions lists. The reason is the risk of secondary sanctions: a company shipping listed goods can jeopardise its own banking and international trade relationships.
In short, the picture has three layers: (1) ordinary goods — free; (2) sanctioned / dual-use goods — risky and effectively restricted; (3) for every product, Russia’s own entry rules — mandatory marking and certification.
So what is actually banned or restricted?
On the restricted side you mainly find: high-technology items on Western sanctions lists, military or dual-use goods (usable for both civilian and military purposes), and certain luxury categories. Russia also has its own export bans (some raw materials and equipment restricted from leaving Russia) — that concerns importers.
Always check in advance whether your product falls into these restricted groups. For the up-to-date, product-level list, see our guide on goods banned or restricted for shipment to Russia. If you are not sure, get expert advice before you ship.
Customs duty: not a ban, a cost difference
A commonly confused point is customs duty. Since 2021, Russia removed Türkiye from its Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) list. This means the preferential (reduced) customs-duty advantage for Turkish-origin goods has ended; general customs tariffs now apply. This is not a ban — it is simply a line item that affects your cost calculation and price competitiveness. You just need to build your pricing accordingly.
The real barrier: not export permission, but Russian market compliance
Here is the critical point: what actually stops the Turkish exporter is not an “export ban” but Russia’s domestic market compliance rules. Getting a product across the border is not enough; to be sold legally in Russia the product must meet specific conditions. Foremost among these is Chestny Znak (Честный Знак) mandatory digital marking.
Chestny Znak is the state system in which Russia has a DataMatrix-based square code printed on products and tracks each item end to end. Its scope expands every year; dozens of categories are mandatory — from textiles and footwear to dairy, perfume, confectionery, pasta, and the radio-electronics and household appliances added in 2026. We explain what the system is in our what is Chestny Znak article and the technical side of the code in our Russia square-code guide. You can quickly check whether your product is in scope on our code lookup page.
Certification: no entry without EAC/GOST
Alongside marking, an EAC (EAC conformity mark) showing that your product complies with the technical regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union is usually required. Without EAC you will face problems at customs. We explain what this document is and which products need it in our EAC certificate guide. Having an EAC is a good start, but on its own it is not enough — marking, labelling, and document flow must also be completed.
The marking-before-customs requirement
In many categories, products must be labelled with a Chestny Znak code before they arrive at Russian customs. In other words, marking is expected to be handled at the production or shipment stage, not in Russia. Companies that get this flow wrong end up with trucks waiting at the border. We describe the correct flow step by step in our labelling before customs guide.
Where should you start?
For regular exports to the Russian market the order is: first verify whether your product is on the restricted list, then determine Chestny Znak scope and EAC requirements, register your company in the CRPT system, set up your GS1 barcode/GTIN structure, and move the marking flow to before shipment. For the size and dynamics of the market, our Türkiye–Russia trade facts article is a good starting point.
At Global Znak Consulting we see Turkish exporters get stuck at exactly this point: the market is open, the barrier is preparation. We handle scope analysis, CRPT registration, electronic signature, EAC, and the end-to-end marking flow on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is exporting to Russia banned?
No. Because Türkiye is not a party to the Western sanctions, ordinary products not on the sanctions lists can be exported to Russia legally. Only certain sensitive/dual-use goods are restricted.
Then what stops companies?
Not export permission, but Russia’s domestic market compliance rules: primarily Chestny Znak mandatory marking, then EAC certification and pre-customs labelling. Until these are completed the product cannot, in practice, be sold.
Did customs duty go up?
Because Türkiye was removed from the GSP preferential-tariff list, the reduced-duty advantage ended and general tariffs apply. This is not a ban, it is a cost item.
How do I find out whether my product is within Chestny Znak scope?
Scope is determined by the HS/GTIP code and product category. You can check quickly on our code lookup page, and consult us where you are unsure.
Conclusion: the opportunity is in the market, the barrier is in preparation
Exporting to Russia is not banned; what is mistaken for a ban is actually a misunderstood sanctions perception mixed with Russia’s own compliance rules. The right question is not “can I send it?” but “how do I sell it in compliance with the rules?” For the Turkish manufacturer who prepares correctly, Russia remains one of the largest and most accessible export markets.
Note: sanctions and marking scopes are updated frequently. For precise and current information, verify with the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade and the official Chestny Znak/CRPT regulations, or contact us.
