Orenburg and the formation of new Russian-Eastern trade relations in the second half of the 18th century

The article is devoted to the role of Orenburg in the formation of new directions of Russia’s foreign trade in the second half of the 18 th century. The researcher highlights the dynamics of Russian-eastern trade in the Orenburg area, the character and peculiarities of trade links. It is argued that active development of the Trans-Volga and Southern Ural regions opened new prospects for the development of trade and economic relations between the Russian Empire and the states of Central Asia, China, India, Afghanistan, Iran and other countries of the East.