Which brands will this affect
From April 1, 2024, Russian consumers may feel the effects of lowering the threshold for duty-free online purchases. According to the Hi-Tech Mail.ru portal, prices for imported equipment imported as part of parallel imports may jump by 15-20%.
In 2022, the threshold for duty-free import of goods was temporarily increased to 1000 euros in order to support alternative supply channels for electronics amid the departure of many foreign manufacturers from the Russian market. However, from April this threshold may again be reduced to the usual 200 euros. If this amount is exceeded, buyers will have to pay a duty of 15% of the cost of the goods and the amount exceeding the threshold.
Experts warn that such a decision could have a negative impact on the Russian electronics market. In addition to rising prices, lowering the threshold for duty-free purchases may provoke an increase in the share of counterfeit products, consumer refusal from expensive purchases and a reduction in import volumes by 18-20%.
First of all, popular brands that have officially suspended deliveries to Russia, such as Apple (iPhone, iPad, MacBook, AirPods), Samsung, Dyson and others, will be hit. Also mentioned are PC accessories from Razer, Logitech and other companies, TVs from non-Russian and non-Chinese brands, household appliances for 20-100 thousand rubles from LG, Bosch, Tefal, Braun, Sony and other companies.
«The likelihood that Apple’s flagship equipment will rise in price from April 1, – 100%. According to the most optimistic forecasts, retailers will raise prices by 15% or more. At the same time, there are no simple and legal ways to bypass the reduced limit yet», — noted representatives of the Pro-Vision group of companies.