Russian sanctions evasion scheme may spark electronics shortage in EAEU countries

Russia’s use of “parallel imports” to make up for lost supply chains could cause an electronics shortage in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), according to distributors and retailers who spoke to Kommersant.

To satisfy Russia's demand for electronics whose manufacturers have suspended supplies to the country, local vendors in EAEU countries have been tapping into their surplus stock and sending products to Russia. “But since demand in domestic markets will increase with the start of the school year and last until the holiday season, they may start refusing to ship products to Russian companies,” said a source who spoke to the paper.

According to Holodilnik.ru commercial director Alexey Pogudalov, the EAEU countries have already run out of idle inventory to send to Russia. Electronics dealers have been raising prices on electronics in anticipation of Russian distributors “buying everything,” he said.

• After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many foreign companies, including popular electronics manufacturers, suspended supplies to Russia. To replace the lost goods, the Russian authorities began allowing “parallel imports” from third-party countries.