The Trade Relations of Russia with the States of the Eastern Balkans in the late XIX – early XX centuries (1898–1912) and the Problem of Borrowing the Experience of Austria-Hungary in the Reports of Russian Diplomats

Abstract

Russia’s foreign economic relations with Romania and Bulgaria in the late 19th-early 20th centuries have been under-researched in Russian and foreign historiography. The reports of Russian diplomats, who, besides analyzing trade relations, offered recommendations on the improvement and expansion of Russia’s economic contacts with Rumania and Bulgaria, are presented as an object of research in the paper. The weak interest of Russian trade and industry circles in the development of foreign trade, poor transport logistics and ignorance of the specifics of markets in the Eastern Balkans have not contributed to an increase in its trade with Romania and Bulgaria. The article provides evidence of the overlapping structure of Russian, Romanian and Bulgarian exports. They all depended on agricultural exports being competitors on foreign markets. For a long time, Russia was unable to act as an exporter of manufactured goods to these states. In 1908−1909 Russia stepped up its economic infiltration into the Balkans, using the increased potential of its own industry and considering the experience of other states, above all Austria-Hungary. On the eve of the Balkan wars, Russia's trade relations with Bulgaria and especially with Romania reached their peak. The outbreak of the First Balkan War led to the destabilization of foreign economic relations in the region and a reduction in Russian trade with Romania and Bulgaria.