Belousov estimated the volume of parallel imports over two years at $70 billion

Over the past two years, goods worth more than $70 billion have been imported into Russia through parallel imports. This was announced by First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Andrei Belousov at a meeting of the Presidential Council for Strategic Development and National Projects.

Total imports in 2023 exceeded pre-crisis 2021 levels and reached $300 billion, he noted. In 2021, the figure was $296 billion, according to data from the Federal Customs Service (FCS). The share of “unfriendly” countries in imports this year has decreased to 29% compared to 50% two years earlier, the First Deputy Prime Minister noted.

Stable flow of goods into the country in 2022-2023. was supported by government measures, Belousov added. In addition to parallel imports, this was helped by partial exemption from VAT on imported equipment that has no Russian analogues, as well as a package zeroing of import customs duties. The first benefit helped save businesses almost 105 billion rubles. for two years, the second – more than 130 billion rubles.

In addition, incentives on import duties for investment projects were launched, the First Deputy Prime Minister recalled. Their volume is already estimated at 1 billion rubles. The government also provided preferential loans to support priority imports – such loans amounted to 400 billion rubles over two years. In general, the authorities managed to solve the problem of providing Russian enterprises and consumers with necessary goods, Belousov concluded.

In 2022, total imports to Russia amounted to $259 billion, exports – $592 billion, according to data from the Federal Customs Service. In January-October 2023, goods worth $237 billion were imported. Exports from Russia during the same period amounted to $351 billion. According to the official estimate of the Ministry of Economic Development, the total volume of imports in 2023 should reach $314 billion, exports – $459 billion. In 2024 The import of goods is projected at $320 billion, export – $471 billion.

Parallel imports involve the importation of original goods into the country without the permission of the copyright holder or manufacturer. The mechanism became operational in Russia on March 29, 2022 in response to Western sanctions. In September, it was extended to 2023. In 2022, the volume of parallel imports exceeded $20 billion, said Vladimir Bulavin, who then held the position of head of the Federal Customs Service. According to him, a total of 2.4 million tons of goods were imported, mainly cars, machinery and equipment. The service has not published precise estimates.

The list of goods allowed for “gray” imports has been repeatedly revised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The latest changes were agreed upon in July 2023 and went into effect on November 4 – some brands of spare parts, cameras, glasses, as well as batteries and accumulators were added to the list. In July, it also became known that the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Digital Development are considering restrictions on parallel imports of electronics at the initiative of their Russian manufacturers. The Ministry of Industry and Trade expects to receive specific proposals from domestic companies by the end of 2023, said deputy head of the department Vasily Shpak.