Russian parallel imports growing by 18%/month in volume, 20% in value

MOSCOW. Sept 15 (Interfax) - Russian parallel imports are growing by an average of 18% per month by volume and 20% by their "statistical value," the Federal Customs Service (FCS) reported.

Parallel imports of various products totalled 383,000 tonnes in August, and they have topped 1.3 million tonnes since such imports were approved, the FCS said.

The FCS said it is not seeing an increase in imports of counterfeit goods in 2022. Since January, customs officials have found about 7 million individual units of counterfeits and opened 432 cases concerning administrative violations in the area of intellectual property, compared to 4.9 million units in 2021 and 7.9 million in 2020.

"Parallel imports are one of the effective measures of support for importers taken by the Russian government amid the unfriendly actions of the United States and its allied countries and organizations. This regime applies to original products and allows participants in foreign economic activities to import such goods without the consent of rights holders. This makes it possible to minimize the risks of unethical foreign rights holders creating obstacles for Russian importers to conduct foreign trade activities," the FCS said.

The list of products, with specification of brands, for which parallel imports have been legalized is overseen by the Industry and Trade Ministry, which updates it depending on the needs of the Russian market.