As Western countries increase sanctions on Russia, Thailand is quietly becoming an important transit hub for Chinese civilian drones exported to Russia.
Trade data shows that since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, Thailand's drone exports to Russia and its drone imports from China have both surged, a trend that has attracted attention from Ukraine and the United States.
Bloomberg’s analysis of official Thai trade data shows that in the first 11 months of 2025, Russia imported drones worth 125 million US dollars (488 million ringgit) from Thailand, accounting for 88% of Thailand’s total drone exports. This amount is eight times that of 2024.
During the same period, Thailand imported drones worth 186 million US dollars (727 million ringgit) from China, constituting nearly all of Thailand’s total drone product imports.
Official data also shows that in 2022, Thailand exported less than 1 million US dollars (3.91 million ringgit) worth of drones, with not a single drone exported to Russia.
Although overall trade activity between Thailand and Russia is limited — last year, bilateral trade amounted to only 2.3 billion US dollars (8.985 billion ringgit) — the two countries are growing closer in economic, cultural, and political fields.
Western intelligence agencies believe that Southeast Asia has become an important transit channel for equipment shipped to Russia.
Bloomberg’s analysis of official Thai trade data shows that in the first 11 months of 2025, Russia imported drones worth 125 million US dollars (488 million ringgit) from Thailand, accounting for 88% of Thailand’s total drone exports. This amount is eight times that of 2024.
During the same period, Thailand imported drones worth 186 million US dollars (727 million ringgit) from China, constituting nearly all of Thailand’s total drone product imports.
Official data also shows that in 2022, Thailand exported less than 1 million US dollars (3.91 million ringgit) worth of drones, with not a single drone exported to Russia.
Although overall trade activity between Thailand and Russia is limited — last year, bilateral trade amounted to only 2.3 billion US dollars (8.985 billion ringgit) — the two countries are growing closer in economic, cultural, and political fields.
Western intelligence agencies believe that Southeast Asia has become an important transit channel for equipment shipped to Russia.