A new wave of mobilization and sanctions concerns are shaping risk perceptions among large and mid-sized Russian enterprises
A recent survey conducted with the Aktion group of companies shows that 34 percent and 29 percent of respondents consider mobilization and new sanctions to be the most serious threats to their operations. socialbites.ca has the results.
Other major concerns cited by entrepreneurs include a weakening ruble, Russia’s potential detachment from the SWIFT payment network, and the prospect of limiting parallel imports that allow goods to enter the country without the explicit permission of the rights holders. These issues were named by 19 percent, 17 percent and 15 percent of respondents respectively. A smaller share, 7 percent, fears disruptions to payment services, while 5 percent worry that certain Western suppliers may withdraw from the domestic market. The same level of concern was reported for lengthier logistics routes and related transport challenges. A minority, 2 percent, foresee a scenario where Western buyers would reduce purchases from Russia.
Only 9 percent of participants indicated that their business faces no threats.
Compared with the previous year, the study shows a shift in risk levels: 29 percent of respondents noted a notable rise in risk, 27 percent saw no change, and 26 percent observed a small increase. Eleven percent reported a slight reduction in risk, while 7 percent recorded a meaningful drop in threats.
When asked about potential outcomes for profitability, more than a third of respondents, 35 percent, said a revenue decline of more than 50 percent could push their business into bankruptcy. About the same share, 32 percent, cited a drop of up to 30 percent as a critical threshold. A 50 percent revenue fall would prompt 29 percent to expect bankruptcy, and the remaining 4 percent identified a decline capped at 10 percent as the threshold for concern.
Forecasts for the end of 2023 show a mixed outlook. Almost half of the participants, 44 percent, anticipate a modest rise in entrepreneurial income. Seventeen percent anticipate no growth, while 22 percent and 13 percent expect a slight or a significant decline in earnings, respectively. A small segment, 3 percent, are confident that indicators will rise materially this year.
Respondents pointed to several drivers of revenue growth. Increases in prices, broader sales markets, and a wider product range were cited as the primary positive factors. They also believe that focusing on high margin goods and investing in public relations and marketing can support favorable trends in revenue. The overall sentiment reflects a cautious optimism tempered by awareness of macroeconomic and policy risks.
The survey was conducted in June and included 325 representatives from large and mid-sized Russian enterprises with annual turnover ranging from 1 billion to 1 trillion rubles. Participants spanned multiple sectors, including trade and food, manufacturing, construction, light industry, defense, shipping and cargo, energy, information technology, agriculture, and telecommunications within the national economy.
Previously reported on the growth of turnover among small and medium enterprises in Russia.