On January 1, 2026, the first increase in customs duties in the last twenty years will come into force in Russia. The government's decision is explained by the need to index payments taking into account accumulated inflation and rising costs of customs operations.
The maximum rate, which has not changed since 2004, will increase from 30,000 to 74,000 rubles. The new amount will be applied to shipments of imported goods worth over 10 million rubles. According to the calculations of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the updated rates should reflect the current level of cargo handling costs and be commensurate with the cost of imported products.
The changes will affect other categories as well. For example, when importing electronics, the rate will increase from 30 to 74 rubles, regardless of the batch size. The authorities emphasize that this is not a new duty, but rather an adjustment of existing fees that have been frozen for almost two decades.
Experts note that the increase may have a moderate effect on price growth, but for most importers the changes will not be critical. Thus, according to Ivan Evmenov, director of the CNC 24 company, which supplies machine tools, the share of new fees in the cost does not exceed 1%. However, he admits that, combined with the increase in VAT and logistics costs, this will lead to an overall burden on the business.
Alexey Soldatov, co-founder of Vectorcom, believes that the new rates will inevitably affect the final price of goods: "Costs will be included in the price, and consumers will have to pay more. At the same time, purchasing power remains low, which may reduce demand for expensive goods." According to experts, the average increase in prices for imported products can range from 5 to 10%.
Representatives of trading companies also note that in addition to the indexation of customs duties, other costs are also increasing. In particular, excise taxes and recycling fees are increasing, while logistics problems and congestion at customs lead to container downtime and additional payments.
However, the changes will not affect goods imported by individuals for personal use, as well as ships and aircraft. The authorities are confident that the updated rates will help stabilize budget revenues and make the system more balanced.
The increase in customs duties has become part of a comprehensive reform aimed at optimizing fiscal policy. According to analysts, this decision will allow the government to increase revenues without significant pressure on business, although for some industries it will become an additional cost growth factor.
