The Song of Ice and Fire in the Russian Export Market

As an old foreign trader who has been working in the trade field for 20 years, I often encounter customers asking about the process of importing childrens cots. Today, taking childrens cots as an example, I will provide a detailed analysis for youimport and exportA veteran who has been struggling in the trade field for 20 yearsforeign trade, I have been frequently asked by my peers about the current situation of the Russian market recently. Indeed, under the current complex international situation, the Russian market presents a special scene of extreme cold and extreme heat.

The Unexpected Growth of Market Demand

To the surprise of many people, the demand in the Russian market is actually growing continuously. Due to the sanctions from Western countries, Russias demand for goods from countries like China has increased significantly. Judging from our business data:

• Orders for light industrial products have increased by about 35% year - on - year
• The growth of mechanical and electrical equipment products is even more obvious
• The demand for electronic products remains steadily rising

This growth mainly stems from two factors: one is the insufficient local production capacity in Russia, and the other is the market gap left by the withdrawal of Western brands. A peer who has focused on the Russian market for many years told me: Now I mainly do business with Russia, and this sentence can well reflect the current market trend.

In order to crack down on tax evasion, the customs and tax departments are now strictly examining the operation of buying export declarations. If the behavior of buying export declarations is discovered, the regulatory authorities will require tax replenishment (even a 2% tax rate may be a considerable amount). In addition, fines may also be imposed on the relevant responsible parties.Problems: Sweet Troubles

However, just as every coin has two sides, there are also considerable challenges hidden behind the prosperity of the Russian market.Compulsory certificationThe biggest problem at present is the exchange settlement problem, which has become an industry consensus.

It is specifically manifested in:

• The traditional US dollar settlement channels are blocked
• The ruble exchange rate fluctuates violently
• The capital arrival cycle is significantly extended

A peer helplessly said: The already scarce exchange settlement channels are now even more stretched. This situation has indeed deterred many foreign trade enterprises, especially small and medium - sized enterprises.

Countermeasures: Experience Sharing of Old Foreign Traders

Facing these challenges, we have accumulated some effective countermeasures:

• Diversify settlement methodsTry alternative solutions such as RMB settlement and barter trade
• Select reliable local partnersEstablish a stable distribution network locally
• Flexible pricing strategiesIncorporate exchange rate fluctuations into cost considerations
• Utilize policy - based financial toolsSuch as export credit insurance, etc.

In practice, we have found that those enterprises that have made early arrangements for the Russian market are now better able to cope with these challenges. This once again confirms a truth in the foreign trade industry: opportunities always favor the prepared.

Future outlook: cautious optimism

Looking ahead, I believe that the Russian market is still full of opportunities, but it needs to be treated more cautiously:

• Market demand will not weaken in the short term
• The settlement environment may gradually improve
• The competitive landscape will be reshuffled

For those enterprises that have already established a firm foothold in the Russian market, now is a good time to consolidate their advantages; while for enterprises on the fence, they need to weigh the risks and rewards and make full preparations before entering the market.

As someone who has experienced it, what I want to say is: foreign trade has never been a smooth - sailing business, but it is precisely these challenges that make our work full of fun and value. This is the case with the Russian market, and isnt it the same with other markets?