Russia Raises Customs Duties Following Revenue Shortfall: Imports Become More Expensive, Businesses Will Pay More
21 January 16:03
Effective January 1, the Russian government has drastically revised the fees for customs clearance of imports. This decision was a direct response to the decline in revenue at the Federal Customs Service, which, by the end of 2025, had fallen short of its revenue targets by about 20%—the worst performance since 2020.
This was reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to intelligence reports, the reduction in customs duties is occurring against the backdrop of a general decline in Russia’s export revenues, particularly from the sale of energy resources. In response, the Kremlin has adopted a fiscal model that shifts the financial burden onto importers and the domestic market.
The new tariff structure aims to quickly replenish the budget but places additional pressure on businesses and consumers.
What exactly has become more expensive
According to the updated rules:
- customs duties on small and medium-sized import shipments have increased by 15%;
- for large shipments of goods valued at over $128,000, the fixed rate per declaration has been raised by 147%—from $380 to $940.
The most painful changes have affected radio electronics. A flat rate of $940 has been introduced for chips, microchips, telecommunications equipment, and computer components, regardless of shipment volume. In some cases, this means a 2.5-fold increase in duties compared to 2025.
Even mass-market consumer goods containing electronic components may fall under the new rates.
Estimates suggest that the additional costs for customs clearance of a single container average about $500. This, in turn, translates into a rise in consumer prices of approximately 1.5%.
The import of microelectronics in small batches poses a separate problem. High duties effectively block the supply of samples for testing and certification, pushing the industry toward technological degradation. Businesses are forced to either artificially increase batch sizes, losing flexibility in their supply chains, or abandon niche and specialized products due to their unprofitability.
The Foreign Intelligence Service notes that this is yet another attempt by the Russian authorities to plug budget holes at the expense of businesses.
“Against the backdrop of declining export revenues, the state is shifting the fiscal burden onto imports and the domestic market, deliberately creating additional inflationary pressure,” the intelligence report emphasized.
Earlier reports also indicated that by the end of 2025, the Russian government had minimized state spending in an effort to keep the budget deficit within updated targets amid falling oil revenues.
