Business centers shuffle batteries – Newspaper Kommersant No. 242 (7443) of 12/28/2022

Office developers completing the implementation of projects started before the crisis are losing supplies of EU building materials and equipment. In particular, the share of European-made heating systems this year decreased by almost five times, to 15%, air conditioning systems – by one and a half times, to 52%. But some positions cannot be replaced, and developers continue to look for purchasing opportunities in Europe. Market participants do not yet expect a complete rejection of supplies from Western countries, counting on parallel imports.

As follows from the calculations of Pridex (engaged in office decoration), in 2022, the share of purchases of building materials and equipment from the EU by Russian developers of business centers in general decreased by 6.1% due to logistics becoming more complicated after February 24. But in some positions, the decline was much more noticeable. Thus, the share of Western-made heating systems decreased by almost five times – from 72% to 15%, the supply of air conditioning systems (from 82% to 52%) and cable support systems (from 40% to 25%) fell by one and a half times.

But the volumes of materials and equipment of local production have grown. Thus, according to Pridex, the share of Russian ceiling systems increased from 61% to 90%, porcelain stoneware – from 26% to 37%, switchboard equipment – from 10% to 15%, and heating systems – from 28% to 85%. Manufacturers from Asian countries managed to increase the supply of air conditioning systems, the share of which increased from 15% to 48%.

Changes in the geography of purchases are also confirmed by developers. At Stone Hedge, at the beginning of the year, the share of European equipment in office facilities was 30%, and 20% came from supplies from Asia, which increased by 10 p.p. by the end of 2022. In the CODE coworking network, the share of purchases from Europe decreased from 20% to 10% due to increased supplies from Russian manufacturers.

Business center developers are almost completely dependent on imports: about 20-40% of materials and equipment are imported from Europe, the rest is produced in the Russian Federation, including on imported equipment and raw materials, explains Mikhail Capon. But some European companies that supplied the country, for example, meeting booths, office tables, are localizing production in Russia so as not to lose this market, says Q1 Group CEO Ekaterina Newman.

But it is not possible to replace materials and equipment from the EU in all positions. According to Pridex estimates, the share of European supplies of floor coverings remained at the same level at 95%, sanitary ware – 80%, lighting fixtures – 35%, pumping equipment – 97%. Perhaps there is a replacement for these products, but the design decisions made earlier provide for the use of them, so the developers brought materials and equipment through parallel imports, says Mikhail Kaplun. Due to this mechanism, it was possible to resume deliveries of approximately 70% of foreign products, with which there were problems at the beginning of this year, confirms Alexander Aleinikov, commercial director of Pridex.

It is more difficult with IT equipment for offices, says Mr. Kaplun. It is produced not only in the West, but also in Asia, but using US and EU technologies. But now not a single European manufacturer, given the Western sanctions imposed on the technology sector of the Russian Federation, can no longer provide official guarantees, explains Ekaterina Newman. So far, developers are using stocks of IT equipment, but after they are exhausted, they will have to use used ones, Mikhail Kaplun does not exclude.

In the future, the share of purchases from suppliers from the EU will continue to decline, but so far in the Russian Federation and Asia there is no complete replacement of materials similar in quality to European ones, which will force customers to apply there for supplies, says Gurgen Shekoyan, founder of the CODE coworking network. It is premature to talk about a significant reduction in imported building materials for office facilities, Stone Hedge agrees. The development of local production, of course, will continue, but in some cases, in particular with elevator equipment, this process can take years, the company concludes.

Daria Andrianova