Russia to reduce support for exports through transport subsidy in 2026 - Industry and Trade Ministry
VLADIVOSTOK. Sept 5 (Interfax) - Funding for logistics subsidies that enable exporters to offset a portion of the cost of shipping products abroad is expected to be reduced in 2026 compared to this year, Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Roman Chekushov told reporters on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.
"In the current budget projections, in the bill, the amount of the logistics subsidy is decreasing even compared to this year's amounts. This is due to the reduction of the overall amount for the [International Cooperation and Exports] national project," Chekushov said, without specifying the exact amount.
The parameters of the logistics subsidy for this year call for 5.9 billion rubles in funding, which is distributed among exporters of machinery, equipment and forest products. Another 1.2 billion rubles are provided for establishing new international supply routes.
Chekushov said his ministry's priority now is to focus on fulfilling previously assumed obligations to support companies and on targeted financing for areas that become unprofitable without subsidies.
"The decision will be as follows. Firstly, we must unconditionally fulfil all assumed obligations, so we will accumulate the bulk of funds for fulfilling already existing obligations. This is our principle, we're not retreating from it. Then we'll rework the transport subsidy for key routes and key products. In other words, we'll probably leave the logistics subsidy for the routes that won't go without subsidies. In some places this support is vital for reducing the exporter's costs and increasing competitiveness," he said.
He cited South Asia, Africa and Latin America as examples of such export markets, noting that while in 2025 the government supported exports to specific countries, next year it plans to subsidize exports by macro-region.
"Markets that are now our focus for increasing the presence of Russian goods include Africa and Latin America. Our subsidy is now directed at just six countries. But it's not critical for us to which country a specific ship goes, so we will target the subsidy at Latin American countries, and all of Africa and South Asia. This is already not quite the format of orientation toward transport corridors. We're saying that if you ship products to these macro-regions you get a subsidy, and where there is efficiency even without subsidies, unfortunately, not," Chekushov said.
He also said the resumption of selection of projects for support through corporate competitiveness enhancement programs (CCEP) has been put off until 2027 due to limited budget resources. These programs provide access to subsidized loans for export-oriented manufacturers.
"The resumption of CCEP is objectively possible starting in 2027, because, as I've already said, we have obligations that we have not fulfilled to banks. Next year we will also be fulfilling them. New selections are not planned at this point," Chekushov said.
