Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the opportunities and challenges for Chinese companies in the Russian e-commerce market following the recent visa-free policy for Chinese citizens and the significant market gap created by the withdrawal of Western companies due to geopolitical tensions [4][6]. Economic Overview - The Russian e-commerce market is experiencing rapid growth, with online retail sales reaching 4.4 trillion rubles (approximately 400 billion RMB) in the first five months of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 39% [4]. - The Russian Central Bank has sold 232.6 tons of gold to cover budget deficits, indicating severe financial pressure, with a fiscal deficit of 3.69 trillion rubles (approximately 325.46 billion RMB) in the first half of the year, over five times that of the same period in 2024 [8][9]. - The ongoing conflict has led to significant currency fluctuations, with the ruble experiencing a 40% appreciation against the dollar in 2025, although long-term geopolitical risks remain a concern [10][11]. Payment and Transaction Challenges - The sanctions have disrupted normal banking operations, affecting payment channels and leading to delays in fund transfers for merchants [11][12]. - New payment solutions are emerging, such as Ozon's GEP payment method, which aims to facilitate transactions despite the challenges posed by the sanctions [12]. Logistics and Supply Chain - The logistics landscape has changed dramatically due to the conflict, with transportation costs increasing by 69% over the past three years [14]. - Ozon has established fulfillment centers in ten Chinese cities and is offering reduced shipping rates for orders to Kazakhstan and Belarus, potentially lowering logistics costs by 40% [15]. Marketing and Brand Localization - The closure of Western social media platforms has shifted marketing efforts towards local platforms like VK and Telegram, which have significant user bases in Russia [16][18]. - Ozon plans to launch the "Ozon Alliance Program" to connect Chinese brands with over 1 million KOLs on VK, enhancing brand visibility in the Russian market [18]. Conclusion - The Russian e-commerce market is undergoing structural changes, with logistics and marketing strategies needing to adapt to the new geopolitical landscape. Companies that can quickly adjust to these changes are likely to find growth opportunities in this evolving market [18].

Core Insights - Russia has exempted Chinese citizens from visa requirements for various purposes, including tourism and cultural activities, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations [3] - The Russian e-commerce market is experiencing rapid growth, with online retail sales reaching 4.4 trillion rubles (approximately 400 billion RMB) in the first five months of 2025, reflecting a 39% year-on-year increase [3] - The geopolitical shifts due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict have created a substantial market gap, presenting new opportunities for Chinese goods with supply chain advantages [3] Economic Overview - The Russian economy is under pressure, with the central bank selling gold reserves to meet budgetary needs, reducing its gold reserves from 405.7 tons to 173.1 tons since the onset of the conflict [4][5] - The fiscal deficit for Russia reached 3.69 trillion rubles (approximately 325.5 billion RMB) in the first half of the year, over five times the deficit for the same period in 2024 [5] - The Russian government is expected to spend at least 16.55 trillion rubles (approximately 1.4715 trillion RMB) on military-related expenditures in 2025 [5] Currency and Payment Challenges - The ongoing conflict has led to significant currency fluctuations, with the ruble experiencing volatility of up to 50% annually, impacting merchants' profitability [6] - The ruble has appreciated over 40% against the dollar in 2025, but geopolitical risks remain a critical factor influencing its value [6][7] - Payment processing has been disrupted due to sanctions, with fewer banks willing to engage in transactions involving Russian funds, although some local banks are beginning to accept payments from Russia [7][8] Logistics and Supply Chain - The logistics landscape has been reshaped by the conflict, with transportation costs increasing by 69% over the past three years due to the need for new infrastructure and alternative routes [8] - Ozon has established fulfillment centers in ten Chinese cities and is optimizing logistics services for cross-border sellers, potentially reducing logistics costs by about 40% [9] - The platform is also enhancing return policies to alleviate operational costs for Chinese sellers, allowing for easier re-listing of returned items [9] Marketing and Brand Localization - The tightening of control over foreign social media platforms has led to a shift towards local platforms like VK and Telegram for brand marketing in Russia [10][11] - Ozon plans to launch the "Ozon Alliance Program" in 2026 to connect Chinese sellers with over 1 million KOLs on VK, facilitating off-site traffic generation [11] - The restructuring of the Russian e-commerce market necessitates adaptation to new operational rules, with early adopters likely to benefit from growth opportunities [11]

Core Insights - Ozon, a leading Russian e-commerce platform, reported significant growth during the 2025 Double Eleven shopping festival, attracting over 36 million consumers and experiencing a comprehensive increase in platform traffic, order volume, and cross-border categories [1] Group 1: Performance Metrics - The total Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of products from Chinese sellers on Ozon Global increased by over 100% year-on-year, with order volume from China surging more than six times compared to the previous year [1] - During the promotional period from October 23 to November 13, over 28 million orders of Chinese goods were placed, covering 12 million purchasing users, confirming Ozon Global as a key channel for Chinese cross-border e-commerce into Russia and surrounding markets [3] - On November 11, Ozon Global processed over 100,000 cross-border orders within one hour during peak sales, with total product views exceeding 3.1 billion, and clothing category views surpassing 1.3 billion [4] Group 2: Category Performance - Key cross-border categories on Ozon Global saw exponential growth, indicating strong consumer demand for Chinese products in Russia and surrounding markets. The top five categories by sales volume included: - Jewelry (over 10 times growth) - Lingerie and loungewear (nearly 12 times growth) - Women's clothing (over 5 times growth) - DIY tools (over 4 times growth) - Kitchenware (8 times growth) [5] - In terms of sales revenue, the leading categories included: - Smartphones and tablets (over 2 times growth) - DIY tools (3 times growth) - Outerwear (2.3 times growth) - Laptops and desktops (3.4 times growth) - Women's clothing (over 2.5 times growth) [5] Group 3: Strategic Developments - Ozon Global has been enhancing its collaboration with Chinese sellers since establishing an office in Shenzhen in 2022, focusing on improving cross-border logistics infrastructure across multiple Chinese cities [6] - Starting in 2024, Chinese sellers will be able to sell products to several countries where Ozon operates, including Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan, further expanding their market reach [6] Group 4: Company Overview - Ozon is a multi-category Russian e-commerce platform with a comprehensive logistics network, covering markets in Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, and has operations in China and Turkey [7] - The platform offers over 370 million products across more than 20 categories, including books, clothing, food, and health products, and currently has 63 million active users, supporting over 600,000 entrepreneurs in expanding their businesses in Russia and the CIS markets [7]