The Russian Empire Foreign Trade Dynamics: a statistical approach. 1790–1822. A time of shocks

Introduction. The Russian Empire foreign trade of the 19th century may be studied using a reliable source: foreign trade yearbooks. The yearbooks, first published in Russia in 1803, were among the first of their kind in the world, they provide the longest-running regular statistics for Russia. Various aspects of Russian foreign trade have been extensively studied, however we still have yet to construct and examine statistical series that could be derived from this basis. This article starts a series on the 19th century Russian foreign trade statistics, aimed at outlining a general approach for such a study. The purpose of this article is to examine, using official statistics, the Russian exports and imports dynamics during the reign of Alexander I, a period when foreign trade was strongly determined by foreign policy circumstances. Materials and Methods. The study is based on constructing a time series of foreign trade statistics both for individual indicators and as a whole. Monetary statistical indicators are compared using conversions into 1840 silver rubles. Results. The study begins by presenting the overall dynamics of Russia’s exports and imports during the chosen period. This demonstrates a profound decline in trade throughout the Napoleonic Wars. However, examining the beginning and end of the period reveals a slight upward trend in trade. Discussion and Conclusion. Several time series are examined in more detail. It is shown that the structure of both Russia’s exports and imports changed little during this period. An increase in cereal exports is noted in certain years following crop failures in Europe. An interesting process of a short-term surge in Russia’s re-export trade of colonial goods (coffee, spices, etc.), previously unknown in the literature, is noted.