Catherine aimed to reduce Russia's dependence on foreign goods and establish a self-sufficient economy. During her reign, she enacted policies that encouraged the growth of domestic manufacturing, agriculture, and infrastructure, rather than relying on foreign trade.
Although Russia engaged in some international trade, its focus was primarily on developing internal trade routes, modernizing transportation systems, and promoting the exploitation of natural resources within the country.
Catherine's policies were designed to make Russia less dependent on foreign markets, not to compete with other merchants. Therefore, the scale of her cargo did not have a significant impact on the business activities of other merchants from Russia or other regions.