The government agency overseeing industry and commerce has updated the roster of goods eligible for parallel import into Russia. The official list, reflected in a formal order published on the government’s legal information portal, confirms the regulatory change and signals how trade channels may adapt in the current sanctions environment.
Among the newly added items are several consumer and industrial brands familiar to Russian consumers and businesses. Notable inclusions include motor oils from well-known brands such as Shell Helix and Rimula, a range of household appliances from Zanussi and Wahl, and prestige cosmetics and fragrances from Kerastase and Yves Saint Laurent. The addition of these brands expands the scope for parallel importers who rely on non-exclusive distribution rights to supply goods across the country, offering alternative procurement paths and potential price dynamics for buyers.
The ministry further clarified that the list now also encompasses spare parts for agricultural and marine equipment, featuring components associated with Caterpillar and Bauer Kompressoren. This expansion aims to support maintenance and aftersales for critical sectors, ensuring that operators can access replacement parts even when traditional supply chains are disrupted or constrained by broader market conditions.
In another development, the roster includes toy and children’s product brands such as Hasbro, Logitech, and Nintendo. This move broadens the range of consumer entertainment and educational products available through parallel import channels, potentially influencing availability and consumer choice in retail networks and e-commerce platforms across the region. Additionally, twelve car brands were added to the list, signaling ongoing efforts to diversify the supply base for motor vehicles and related equipment through parallel import pathways.
Industry observers noted, at the end of January, that customs payments for home appliances and electronics imports into Russia had decreased in the previous year by a substantial margin, driven in part by the retreat of Western suppliers and a corresponding rise in the number of market participants offering alternatives. This shift underscores how the parallel import framework interacts with macroeconomic pressures and changes in vendor ecosystems, shaping pricing, product availability, and consumer access.
Earlier discussions by the Ministry of Industry and Trade involved evaluating a proposal from a domestic information technology company to limit foreign brands, particularly computer equipment manufacturers, from participating in parallel imports. One such effort was advanced by the general manager of Iceel Techno LLC, the firm behind the ICL brand that covers computers, monitors, and related gear. The executive summarized a letter addressed to the head of the Ministry of Digital Development, outlining the recommendation to ban parallel imports of consumer devices from several major manufacturers, including Acer, Asus, Dell, Inspur, HP, HPE, MSI, Lenovo, and Fujitsu. The exchange highlighted a tension between encouraging domestic production and preserving access to a broad range of technology products through alternative import channels. Industry insiders suggest that policy decisions in this space will continue to balance affordability, supply reliability, and the strategic goal of fostering domestic capabilities while not unduly restricting consumer choice or competitive markets. Overall, the discussions reflect a careful attempt to calibrate regulatory tools in response to shifting supplier landscapes and to support continued trade flows through legally compliant channels.