Import activity for passenger cars into Russia from the European Union and South Korea shows signs of revival, according to Kommersant. The outlet reports that vehicles valued at €20.5 million were shipped from the EU in June and orders worth $59.4 million arrived from Korea in July. These figures reflect a rebound in cross-border trade for new and used autos amid ongoing supply constraints.
New South Korean car imports reached $22.2 million in June, with July deliveries soaring to $59.4 million, a jump of about 2.6 times from June. The surge underscores the role of Korean brands in the Russian market as familiarity with models and pricing remains a significant factor for buyers navigating limited stock.
In June, shipments from China to Russia topped the EU and Korea in value, totaling $30.8 million, signaling that multiple suppliers continue to compete for market share as demand slowly stabilizes after the disruption in supply chains.
Industry insiders note that service sectors within Russia face ongoing bottlenecks in components. Ilya Ivansky, head of service at the Fresh Auto dealer network, explained in an interview with the Prime news service that nearly all auto service centers experience a shortage of spare parts.
Parallel imports have not reached full operational capacity yet. Ivansky highlighted that only about 10 to 15 percent of the spare parts required for the Russian market are currently being imported via parallel channels. As a result, the share of non-original spare parts has risen from roughly 20 percent to about 50 percent by mid-July, and the availability of spare parts in circulation has also expanded. These dynamics point to a gradual adaptation within the market as import channels adjust to the evolving environment.