Textile appearance: parallel import of clothes to Russia decreased
Alcohol, smartphones and pharmaceutical products have become leaders in parallel import transportation this year, logistics companies told Izvestia. These goods have displaced clothing from the leaders — it used to be imported into the country by the ton, but now imports have dropped significantly. This is due to the localization of production and the resumption of tailoring within the country, experts noted, recalling that in general, only what cannot be fully replaced is imported into Russia. In general, the volume of imports under this scheme has decreased significantly. The information about which goods enter the country in large volumes and from where is in the Izvestia article.
What is imported by parallel import
In 2025, smartphones and accessories for them, car parts, natural and organic cosmetics, alcohol, and the need for pharmaceuticals have increased, logistics companies told Izvestia.
As part of parallel imports (the mechanism for importing goods into the country without the participation of official brand distributors, their list is approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade), goods that are in high demand on the market are most often transported, Mikhail Koptev, commercial director of the Skif-Cargo federal transport company, recalled.
And this year, according to him, these are smartphones, laptops, tablets and other gadgets, new and used cars, and their components. Medicines and medical equipment, cosmetics and perfumes, refrigerators, washing machines and other large household appliances are also in demand.
"Well—known brand products that are not available or have a high price in official retail are also in demand," he said.
Electronics and household appliances are most often imported in parallel, Artem Vaskanyan, Deputy General Director for Logistics at NC Logistic, a 3PL operator, confirmed.
— The import of automobile spare parts has also increased, which may indicate the aging of the fleet in the face of the departure of many foreign manufacturers, — he explained. — Alcoholic beverages of world brands continue to be imported in parallel.
The Europiir Transport Service company reported that they import a lot of industrial equipment, passenger cars and spare parts for them.
PV Bridge noted that import volumes directly depend on the growing demand for certain goods, and in 2025 there was an increased interest in manufacturing, laboratory and testing equipment. Components and spare parts for industrial, construction and special equipment were also named among the most in-demand product categories within the framework of parallel imports.
"Demand for medical, veterinary and agricultural equipment, chemical reagents, technical fluids, oils and specialized formulations, and used equipment is also growing," the company said. "A steady stream of high—tech products is coming from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Poland."
Regular customers in 2025 are making orders in significantly larger batches than last year. This trend, according to the company's analysts, indicates a tendency to increase inventory and prepare for potential logistical risks.
Izvestia sent a request to the Ministry of Industry and Trade about the most actively supplied types of goods.
What are the difficulties in delivery
When transporting goods as part of parallel imports, legal problems may arise due to the lack of legal status for such a scheme, Mikhail Koptev emphasized.
— There is a difficulty in verifying the authenticity and quality of goods, especially if they come from unofficial suppliers, — said the expert. — Possible delays at customs and additional checks may increase the delivery time. Difficulties with the organization of logistics chains, especially on international shoulders, difficulties with certification and warranty service. And the high level of competition in the market leads to price wars and lower margins.
In addition, the parallel import scheme is still unclear to many market participants, Artyom Vaskanyan added. And its use is associated with certain risks, such as logistical disruptions and difficulties with certification.
"That's why companies are abandoning this mechanism and relying on launching their own production," he explained. — Unpredictability is manifested in the possible delay in delivery times, high dependence on currency fluctuations and risks associated with unreliable suppliers and counterfeit shipments.
There are risks of cargo seizure in Europe on suspicion of sanctioned goods, and the accounts of companies used in the purchase and transportation of goods may be blocked, Europiir Transport Service noted.
"Today, the most important thing is to maintain security, not to keep remote workplaces in Europe or America, as the services there do not doze off and easily access all correspondence and information," they said. "Our company has moved all its correspondence and jobs to Russia."
The difficulties associated with parallel imports are pushing Russian businesses to reorient towards domestic suppliers and increase their own production capacities, Artyom Vaskanyan added.
"This trend is confirmed by an analysis of the structure of international cargo transportation," he said. — For example, in the textile industry, the share of supplies of finished products is decreasing relative to the share of raw materials. The volume of imports of clothing, previously imported into the country by the ton, has decreased significantly, as Russian garment factories have resumed their activities.
PV Bridge called each delivery a "logistical quest" that requires clear interaction between all participants in the chain: from the supplier to the final recipient in Russia.
"In such conditions, the availability of our own infrastructure abroad plays an important role," they added.
How are imports developing under sanctions
Parallel imports in Russia today demonstrate noticeable changes in the dynamics of supplies, said Irina Sozdatel, Vice President of the Association of Exporters and Importers, member of the Expert Advisory Council on Customs Policy Implementation at the Federal Customs Service of Russia. The volume of imports of goods under this scheme has decreased significantly.
"The main reason was the transformation of the domestic market: the vacant niches are increasingly occupied by domestic manufacturers, as well as suppliers from friendly countries," she said. — This restructuring led to structural changes and a redistribution of consumer demand, which naturally affected the volume of parallel imports.
For example, the growth in smartphone shipments seems logical, since two of the four largest global smartphone manufacturers do not officially bring their products to Russia, said Mikhail Khachaturian, associate professor at the Department of Strategic and Innovative Development at the Financial University.
"As for the decrease in the volume of parallel imports of clothing, it is due to the growth of domestic production and official imports of clothing from the CIS countries and friendly countries," he said. — The clothing market as a whole is experiencing certain difficulties associated with an increase in the cost of raw materials, logistics and the level of wages for employees, which has led to its reduction by an average of 16-19%, depending on the region.
According to Irina Sozdatel, the market is adapting to new conditions in which Russian goods are becoming more in demand and imports are becoming more selective.
"Under these conditions, parallel imports remain important, but no longer as the main supply channel, but as an additional mechanism that closes the point demand for certain categories of goods," the expert said. — Despite the decrease in volumes, parallel imports continue to occupy a significant market share. And, most importantly, the system itself functions without serious failures.
Parallel imports, the expert noted, should not replace, but complement domestic production. And the state, according to her, implements just such a model — it strives to preserve consumers' access to familiar goods, while simultaneously creating conditions for the growth of national producers.
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