China’s trade deficit with Russia reached a record $38 billion last year as global energy prices surged following the outbreak of war in Ukraine. 
The world’s second-largest economy purchased $114.1 billion worth of goods from Russia in 2022, up 44% from a year earlier, figures from China’s General Administration of Customs showed Friday. By comparison, China’s total imports from around the globe were up just 1.1% for the year.
Exports to Russia rose about 13% to $76.1 billion. That led to a trade imbalance of more than triple what was seen in the previous year.
China has emerged as one of the only significant buyers — along with India and Turkey — of crude from Russia, after the Group of Seven and European nations slapped sanctions designed to punish President Vladimir Putin for the invasion of Ukraine.