There is no obvious trigger for a broad shortage of consumer goods in Russia. Yet Evgenia Zhukova, a Candidate of Economic Sciences and the Deputy Director of the Institute of Rural Management at Vernadsky University, told socialbites.ca in an interview that shortages in specific goods could arise in 2025. Zhukova points out that Russians who own European, Korean, and Japanese cars may face a shortage of spare parts. Even with parallel imports, auto parts remain scarce, and spare parts from Chinese manufacturers are also affected. She notes that a draft law tightening the circulation of e-cigarettes and possibly banning their sale could lead to shortages of tobacco products and price increases, as well as potential bans on certain purchases. The discussion underscores how regulatory actions can ripple through consumer availability, and it highlights the interplay between international supply chains and domestic demand as the year 2025 approaches.
Zhukova explains that Russians periodically encounter spikes in demand for particular goods, a pattern that creates shortages in some retail outlets. This dynamic was evident when buckwheat saw heavy purchasing in the spring of 2022, prompting retailers to impose per-capita limits while other shops did not restrict purchases and displayed empty shelves. She notes that a surge in banana imports arrived in Russia in the fall of 2023 after the main suppliers in Ecuador faced a pest problem known as a humpback fly; the supply situation improved as shipments from India began at the start of 2024. She recalls that the end of 2023 saw eggs in higher demand due to rising prices and regional shortages. In 2024, May frosts across central Russia created some hurdles for strawberry supply in several regions, adding to the seasonality of shortages. The pattern shows how weather, pests, and price dynamics combine to shape what consumers can find on the shelves.
According to data from Rospotrebnadzor, kefir, cabbage, and beets are among the most inaccessible products for Russians. Earlier reports indicated olive oil was becoming less available to Russians. Together, these signals point to a market where demand shifts and external pressures meet import constraints, shaping what households can buy week by week.