The press office of the Ministry of Industry and Trade told socialbites.ca that there should be no shortage of pads and diapers in the market.
According to official figures, domestic producers account for roughly 90% of the market, with imports making up the remaining 10%. Annual output of hygiene gaskets stands at about 2.3 billion packages, valued around 327 billion rubles. Officials indicated that there are no anticipated supply gaps, and no retail chains have requested assistance from the ministry regarding shortages of these items.
Earlier remarks from the ministry noted a rising demand for personal hygiene products, while also describing purchases of diapers and pads as excessive and unnecessary in some cases.
Procter & Gamble recently announced a narrowing of its product range and a stimulus of prices within the Russian market. The company’s brands include Prima diapers, Ariel, Tide, Lenor, Myth powders, Fairy detergent, Oral-B toothbrushes, Always, Naturella, Concealed pads, and Tampax tampons. Although the firm did not specify which items would face supply limits, it confirmed substantial price increases: diapers up by about 47%, pads and tampons by roughly 33%, and certain powders by nearly 100%.
Consumers interviewed by socialbites.ca reported spotty availability and sharp price hikes. One resident described a trip to two nearby Dixies: the smaller one often runs out of gaskets, while the larger, though well stocked, is located farther away. The morning deliveries hit the smaller store first, sometimes leaving it bare, whereas the larger store appears to be stocked more consistently.
A Moscow resident noted that pads were no longer on sale in Pyaterochka and Podruzhka stores in the northern part of the capital. The author reported purchasing the last available package from Azbuka Vkusa and paying inflated prices for unrelated items as a result.
Holding and Resale Dynamics
Aleksey Belyanin, head of the HSE International Laboratory of Experimental and Behavioral Economics, observed that the market is reflecting a tendency toward stockpiling in uncertain times. He explained that many consumers prefer familiar brands and see a personal care supply as a kind of safety net. Swapping brands is perceived as more disruptive than changing toothpaste flavors, creating a sense of discomfort for shoppers.
Retailers may try to retain scarce goods in warehouses, hoping to profit from higher prices as demand spikes. Belyanin, along with Anastasia Prikladova, an associate professor at the Russian University of Economics, GV Plekhanova, suggested that uncertainty drives initial price surges even as fundamentals remain stable. If purchasing plans shift rapidly, wholesale markets can feel the impact, nudging retail prices higher and accelerating inflation.
Prikladova also explained why distribution can look uneven across stores within the same chain. Centralized purchasing, delivery frequency, and franchising strategies all influence shelf variety and item availability. Some stores may hold stock for resale or speculation, while others run lean on supplies, creating a patchy picture for shoppers. Regulators are urged to monitor these scenarios to protect consumers.
Forecast and Policy Considerations
Prikladova predicts that demand for hygiene products will ease in the near term and prices should fall as stock levels normalize and the ruble strengthens. With stabilizing exchange rates and controlled supply, a return to more typical trading conditions is expected over the coming months.
FAS, the Federal Antimonopoly Service, notes competitive dynamics in the hygiene market. Current law leaves wholesale and retail prices for pads and diapers unregulated, with retailers setting prices based on supply and demand. FAS continues monitoring hotline data to identify and curb unfair market practices. In a prior step, FAS requested clarification from the Detsky Mir group on price increases in diapers, and identified reductions in margins within the broader category of child care products, while confirming the retailer’s obligation to keep essential goods on shelves.
Experts emphasize that market stabilization would benefit from a combination of regulatory clarity and balanced supply. A potential tool discussed is the legalization of parallel imports, allowing the entry of originally manufactured foreign goods by any market participant without licensing constraints. This approach could contribute to price normalization and broader availability in the longer term [Publication sources: ministry statements and expert commentary].
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