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China is building a railway to the Caspian Sea, bypassing Russia: minus 20% on logistics

China is investing in the construction of a railway corridor through Central Asia to the Caspian Sea, bypassing Russian territory. Route: China — Kazakhstan — Turkmenistan — Azerbaijan — Turkey — Europe. It is estimated that it reduces logistics costs by 20% compared to the northern corridor through Russia. This is a direct competition to Russian transit — and at the same time a new infrastructure for transportation to the east.

Cargo transportation

Russia expands CIPS: direct settlements with China without SWIFT

956 28.05

Russia is expanding its connection to CIPS, the Chinese interbank settlement system. A number of Russian second-tier banks have gained direct access to CIPS, bypassing correspondent chains through third countries. This reduces transaction costs, shortens deadlines, and reduces dependence on intermediaries in settlements with China. For companies trading with China, the practical expansion of operational payment channels.

Cryptocurrency

Central Bank rate by the end of 2026: forecast 12-13%

1,532 28.05

Analysts expect the Central Bank of the Russian Federation to reduce the key rate to 12-13% by the end of 2026. Since June 1, the government has been changing the mechanism of business subsidies: the calculation of compensation is linked to three ranges of the Central Bank's rate. At the current 14.5%, the maximum subsidy will be 3.25 percentage points for importers and logistics companies planning credit financing, as the horizon for reducing the cost of money is getting closer.

Economy

Starting from June 1, Ozon fixes FBO tariffs for 60 days

1,483 27.05

Starting from June 1, Ozon introduces the fixing of FBO logistics tariffs for 60 days from the date of creation of the supply request. Three items are fixed: the cost of delivery, reverse logistics, and processing of non-standard goods. I created an application on June 1. Tariffs are frozen until July 30. The change gives sellers something that has been missing over the past year: cost predictability with long-term planning.

Marketplaces

Honest Sign has been expanding since September: new categories for importers

2,058 26.05

Starting in September 2026, the mandatory digital marking "Honest Mark" applies to new product categories. The list includes some food products, printed products and titanium products. For importers in the affected categories, there are direct operating costs for equipment, personnel, and time. Moreover, it will have to be labeled even before the product is released into circulation.

Customs and International Trade

22% VAT and 18.03% rate: what has changed for importers in 2026

1,768 26.05

Starting in 2026, the base VAT rate in Russia has increased to 22%. For marketplaces and importers selling to individuals through online platforms, a new settlement rate has been introduced - 18.03% instead of the previous 16.67%. At the same time, the maximum customs duty increased from 30 to 74 thousand rubles. The total cost of imported goods increased by 5-10% at the beginning of the year, and some market participants are still unaware of this.

Customs and International Trade

Businesses are massively outsourcing logistics

1,065 20.05

Russian companies transfer logistics en masse to third-party operators. The reasons are the high key rate and the shortage of warehouse space. It is unprofitable to build your own warehouse at a loan cost above 14%. 3PL operators are recording a sharp increase in demand for comprehensive storage and delivery services.

Warehouses and cargo terminals

Wildberries has updated the acceptance and return rules — new deadlines and penalty areas

1,437 07.05

Wildberries has updated the "Rules for acceptance and return of goods" section of the offer. Specific deadlines have now been fixed: acceptance of the number of units and assortment — within 10 working days from the date of acceptance for cargo items, objections to the act — within 7 days after publication. Missed the deadline and lost the right to object. At the same time, the site updated the QR code for access to the warehouse and reviewed the impact of dimensions on the cost of logistics and

Marketplaces

India reduces logistics costs to 9% of GDP — BRICS plan

1,604 27.04

The second Logistics Shakti Summit 2026 was held in New Delhi on April 24. Indian Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announced a goal to reduce the share of logistics costs in the country's GDP from the current 14-16% to 9%. India is investing 1 trillion rupees in multimodal infrastructure and building a new role as the architect of BRICS supply chains.

Cargo transportation

Kazakhstan and Russia expand railway corridor to China

1,888 26.04

Kazakhstan and Russia have agreed to strengthen railway freight routes to China. The negotiations are aimed at expanding capacity and synchronizing traffic schedules. For businesses working with Chinese suppliers, this is a signal to improve delivery times and reduce shipping costs.

Cargo transportation

FAS warns Ozon and Wildberries: money and rules

2,202 23.04

The FAS has sent an official warning to Ozon and Wildberries. Marketplaces have increased payment deadlines for sellers, linked logistics tariffs to the price of goods instead of the actual cost of services, and added paid labels without real guarantees. If they don't fix it, it's an antitrust case.

Marketplaces

The Ministry of Finance demands to stop the experiment on customs value

2,014 17.04

The foreign economic activity community is discussing a letter from the Ministry of Finance on the immediate termination of the experiment, where customs accepted the declared value according to the transaction method, and control was transferred to the stage after the release of goods. If the decision is officially confirmed, importers will have to rebuild the issuance, preparation of documents and financial reserves for the return of stricter control "at the border."

Customs and International Trade

Customs charges additional duties for "unfriendly" origin

1,482 15.04

Importers are increasingly receiving additional duties on goods that enter through the EAEU countries but originate from "unfriendly" jurisdictions. The situation is hitting costs and forcing us to review supply chains, origin documents, and the procurement model through "allied" sites.

Customs and International Trade

Brazil: jet fuel soared by 54.8%, urgent cargo will rise in price

556 15.04

In Brazil, jet fuel has sharply risen in price since April 1: Petrobras raised the price by about 54.8% and offered installments of part of the increase for distributors. Fuel accounts for a significant share of airline costs, so the market quickly transfers the increase to tariffs. For B2B, this is a blow to urgent deliveries and the aviation component of logistics.

Cargo transportation

China has built customs into the warehouse and accelerated the export of e-commerce

463 14.04

China has launched a warehouse format, where customs control has been moved inside the marketplace. The declaration, inspection and loading of the container take place at the same facility, without "extra leverage" to a separate customs terminal. For crossbarder sellers, this is a direct blow to the processing time and cost.

Customs and International Trade

Alfa-Bank has removed VAT from payments via Alfa Pay for online acquiring

1,648 14.04

Alfa-Bank has announced that transactions via Alfa Pay for online acquiring customers are no longer subject to VAT. The measure reduces the total cost of accepting online payments at a time when acquiring and related services have been subject to VAT since 2026. For online commerce, this affects marginality and the cost of tariff errors.

Economy

EPA will become mandatory from September 1, 2026: what businesses should do

901 08.04

Starting from September 1, 2026, freight transportation in Russia will switch to mandatory electronic transportation documents: paper forms will no longer legally confirm transportation. The changes cover carriers, forwarders, shippers, and consignees. Companies are already assessing IT costs, signatures, and training to avoid disrupting shipments.

EDI and IT in Logistics

Jet fuel prices have risen sharply in Brazil

906 07.04

The Brazilian air transportation market has received a massive cost blow. Rising jet fuel prices are immediately reflected in cargo aviation, urgent deliveries, and tariffs for businesses that use aviation as part of their logistics.

Economy

Diesel threatens citrus export season in South Africa

566 07.04

South African citrus exports enter the season under pressure from the fuel factor. For the market, this is a story about cost, supply stability, and the vulnerability of agricultural statistics to diesel disruptions.

Cargo transportation

Electronics imports to Russia: rising fees and new barriers in 2026

3,197 03.04

The year 2026 will be a turning point for electronics importers in Russia. At the same time, fees are increasing, new control mechanisms are being introduced, and the tax burden is increasing, which directly affects the cost of goods and logistics.

Customs and International Trade

Articles

Mistakes when creating a personal fund: three cases that cost millions

1,883 13.05

Seven out of ten funds suffer from the same mistakes —cost confusion, verbal agreements, and lack of a "reserve of alternatives." Three real cases of my clients: from 20 to 300 million rubles of losses. And the checklist, how not to repeat.

Low

How to open a representative office of a logistics company in China

3,166 24.12

Do you want to open a branch in China? Before investing money, figure out the main thing: do you need intelligence or a full-fledged business? This article provides an honest analysis of the real bureaucracy, deadlines and costs of opening a representative office in China. Only practical experience that will help you avoid very expensive mistakes.

Logistics, cargo

Bulk carrier: What kind of ship is this and why would the global economy stop without it?

2,613 06.11

The logic of container shipping does not work when it comes to industrial shipments of raw materials. How to transport 50,000 tons of grain? There is a separate world for this — bulk carrier transportation. In this article, we look at how this market works in practice: from the types of ships and the formation of freight rates to the key players. We explain why direct access to a shipowner is a key element of cost and risk management in large—scale logistics.

Cargo transportation

Transportation of dangerous goods: what you need to know in order not to land

1,937 07.08

Transportation is not just a risky job, but a huge responsibility. A mistake can cost not only money, but also freedom. Follow the requirements to avoid getting into trouble and transport chemicals and other dangerous substances according to the rules. This is not just a matter of technology and logistics, but also about security and the law.

Cargo transportation

Air cargo transportation in BRICS: pros, cons and cost

3,122 05.08

Analysis of air transportation in BRICS: speed, cost, real problems and prospects. Find out when air delivery is profitable and when it is not.

Cargo transportation

How much does it really cost to transport 1 ton of cargo in 2025?

3,825 06.06

Are you planning to ship the goods and are you thinking about the costs? In 2025, calculating transportation costs has become a real challenge due to new regulatory changes and market factors. Let's figure out what the final price tag depends on.

Cargo transportation