Serious changes are expected in the Russian market of parallel car imports. Starting from April 1, the Ministry of Industry and Trade plans to introduce a new regulation that will establish uniform rules for calculating the recycling fee for all cars imported by individuals from the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which includes Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. These measures could significantly impact existing savings schemes that allowed cars to be registered through neighboring countries with reduced duties and minimal recycling fees, reports 110km.ru.
According to the results of 2025, Kyrgyzstan ranked first among EAEU countries in the import of new passenger cars to Russia, supplying 53,600 units. The data was provided by the agency "Autostat." The Belarusian market came in second with 17,100 cars, followed by Kazakhstan with 11,000. Armenia ranks last in this list with 344 new cars.
According to the new project, a unified calculation formula will be applied for cars from EAEU countries, similar to that used for direct imports by individuals. In the past, registering cars with undervalued prices in documents or through customs receipts (TPO) allowed for significant tax reductions. Now, however, the difference between Russian VAT rates, excise taxes, and duties will be compensated through an increased recycling fee, while indirect taxes paid in the country of manufacture will not be taken into account.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade emphasizes that the new rules do not increase the basic coefficients of the fee but merely eliminate the possibility of circumventing regulations and create equal conditions for all market participants.
Experts predict that these changes will lead to an increase in car prices. CarPoint Director Marat Sahapov points out that loopholes with TPO are effectively closed: now, when importing cars as an individual, a commercial recycling fee will be charged along with the tax difference. This will particularly affect those cars that were previously imported en masse through Kyrgyzstan using cargo declarations and then resold in Russia.
Vyacheslav Zhigalov, president of the Union of Automobile Dealers, believes that the reform will eliminate dumping by unscrupulous importers and make the competitive environment fairer; however, end consumers will face price increases. Anton Shaparin, vice president of the National Automobile Union, notes that the recycling fee for a basic Chinese model can reach 900,000 rubles plus customs duties. After the introduction of the new regulations, many niche brands and models will become economically unfeasible for import.
Lawyer Lev Voropaev emphasizes that the main goal of this initiative is to protect the domestic market and support local manufacturers. However, experts warn that a reduction in gray imports could lead to a cooling of the market, a decrease in supply, and further price increases for both imported and Russian cars due to reduced competition.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in 2025, over 90,000 individuals and about 500 legal entities imported cars into Russia through the EAEU. This channel will now be under strict control. Although the project has not yet been finalized, there is a high likelihood that it will come into effect on April 1. The ministry continues to close remaining loopholes in parallel imports, which serves as a signal for car enthusiasts planning to make a purchase soon: it is advisable to hurry with the current schemes or prepare for significant price increases.
