Russian Market Remains Challenging

Home Textiles Today Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 8/2/2011 6:14:35 AM

Doing business is Russia remains challenging, according to those who sell into the market. Finding a good and above-board distributor is key in a country where the gray market account sfor roughly one-third of retailing.
     The Russian government is taking measures to simplify international sales. A fact sheet generated by trade fair organization Messe Frankfurt for its Heimtextil Russia show notes that total international imports in Russia rose 17.2% last year, with the EU being the country's largest trading partner.

     A quarter of the textiles business is concentrated in Saint Petersburg and Moscow, the latter "the gateway" to the Russian market and the supply hub for Russian regions and CIS countries.
     Moscow also presents opportunities in the hospitality trade as the government is investing in massive reconstruction and renovation in the hotel industry.