The topic of vehicle imports to Russia in 2022 has surged into focus at the automotive business forum titled Parallel Import. Automobiles, Spare Parts, Components, hosted by the Avtostat agency. This discussion reflects the evolving patterns in how cars reach the Russian market and what that means for consumers, manufacturers, and regulators alike.
Where do they come from
In the first quarter, the new passenger car segment showed leadership from China with a share of 28.3 percent, followed by Belgium at 25.2 percent and Germany at 17.4 percent. The landscape shifted notably in the second quarter, when China surged to the forefront with a dominant 80.6 percent share, while South Korea held second place at 7 percent and Japan trailed in third with 2.6 percent. This divergence highlights how sourcing strategies evolved mid-year for new vehicles and points to regional supply dynamics affecting pricing and availability.
For the used car market, Japan consistently led in both the first and second quarters, accounting for 86.6 percent and 87.4 percent of imports, respectively. Belarus occupied the second position in both periods, with 3.9 percent in the first quarter and 2.8 percent in the second. Germany was third in the first quarter with 2.5 percent, while the United States claimed the same position in the second quarter with 2.3 percent. These figures illustrate a persistent reliance on a small cadre of exporting nations for pre-owned vehicles and reveal shifts in preferences among buyers and traders in the secondary market.
February emerged as a peak month for shipments, bringing in more than 32 thousand units, with two thirds of them being new vehicles. In July, the import volume dropped to 25,000 cars, yet only about one third of that batch consisted of fresh stock. These monthly patterns suggest seasonal dynamics and varying appetite for new versus used vehicles among importers and end buyers.
A notable development is the growing involvement of private individuals in the import process. Private traders accounted for merely 2 percent of the total imports of new cars in February, but their share rose to around 20 percent by July, signaling a shift toward more individual-led procurement channels. In the used car segment, private buyers have dominated since January, surpassing 90 percent, and by July private individuals were responsible for about 99 percent of second-hand vehicle imports. This trend underscores the changing risk appetites and logistical choices in the market for both new and used cars.
Parallel import
Regarding parallel imports, which initially carried high expectations, the situation for cars remains unsettled. Denis Manturov, head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, stated on August 15 that since May Russia has been importing a broad category of goods worth 6.5 billion dollars without the copyright holders’ permission, while approximately 16 billion dollars in goods are expected to be exported by year end. Even against a lengthy roster of items that can be imported without authorization, the scale comes across as modest in comparison. This context shapes the outlook for parallel import in the automotive sector as well as for other categories.
When the focus turns to new cars, the main obstacle continues to be strong protection of intellectual property rights. One-off import transactions typically involve intermediaries who then resell vehicles within Russia, but the proliferation of counterfeit products keeps final prices high. This reality discourages private sellers from engaging with lower-priced imports. The pattern shows that imported vehicles are largely premium crossovers and other high-end segments obtained to fulfill a demand for status-oriented choices rather than budget options.
Overall, the market climate for parallel import in cars remains nuanced and influenced by regulatory constraints, trademark protections, and the strategic decisions of importers. Stakeholders are watching how policy developments, enforcement, and international trade dynamics will shape the availability and pricing of both new and used vehicles in the Russian market. The evolving mix of official channels and parallel pathways continues to define the options available to Russian buyers as the year progresses. This assessment is supported by analyses from industry observers and market researchers included in ongoing coverage and official summaries from the Avtostat agency. (Source attribution: Avtostat)