Vladivostok customs authorities announced a new operating schedule that brings seven-day processing to imports of passenger cars. Beginning February 1, 2024, the department will handle vehicle clearances every day to enable a smoother, nonstop workflow for personal-use car shipments. The press service confirmed the change, noting that the expanded hours aim to streamline registration and reduce waiting times for importers.
Officials explained that the change increases the pace of vehicle processing by adding 24 staff members to the customs clearance and control divisions. The move comes in the context of a record year for imports of foreign cars for personal use in 2023, which showed a 1.5 percent rise compared with 2022. This shift to continuous operations is intended to support a faster, more predictable registration process for individuals bringing in cars for personal use.
The new daily operating window will extend from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., giving importers a broad range of hours to complete clearance procedures. This flexibility is designed to reduce bottlenecks and improve turnaround times for car registrations at Vladivostok customs.
Earlier in September, Vladivostok customs reported handling 11.8 thousand car imports within a four-week period, a figure that reflected a significant drop compared with the period preceding the imposition of new Japanese sanctions affecting the supply of cars to the region. Analysts noted that sanctions and policy shifts can influence the flow of foreign vehicles, underscoring the importance of operational efficiency at border controls.
Industry observers have discussed how Vladivostok might evolve as a regional hub for vehicle trade, drawing comparisons to established centers and considering how changes in customs procedures could shape future trade dynamics. The ongoing developments in Vladivostok illustrate the broader trend of adjusting border management to accommodate rising personal-use vehicle imports and to support smoother regulatory processes for residents and visitors alike.