What changed
Russia will apply updated customs fees for operations linked to the release of goods starting 1 January 2026. The fee schedule is split by direction (import vs export). Import-related fees are indexed upward. The highest customs value bracket threshold moves to “over 10 million RUB” (from over 7 million RUB), and the maximum fee level increases to 73,860 RUB. The update also references separate indexation for radio-electronics goods.
Why this matters for CN/TR → RU forwarders
This is not a “paper-only” change: it affects the line item you (or your broker) charge at release and therefore the landed-cost you quote to customers. If your quotations, broker instructions, or payment workflows still rely on 2025 logic in early January, you risk three typical problems:
- re-issuing invoices after release (client dissatisfaction, margin loss),
- short payments on the broker side (release holds),
- longer coordination loops with finance because amounts no longer match pre-approved limits.
Operational impact (time / cost / risk)
Time: the first 1–2 weeks of January are the danger zone—most delays come from recalculation and payment approval, not from the border itself.
Cost: higher clearance-fee component on many imports, especially high-value shipments; electronics may require special attention due to separate indexation.
Risk: miscalculation and underpayment can trigger avoidable holds; overpayment creates refund/admin work and weakens your pricing credibility.
Who should care most
• Forwarders quoting “to customs release” or DDP/DDU-like end-to-end deliveries into Russia
• Importers with high-value cargo (where the top brackets apply)
• Electronics supply chains and e-commerce programs (frequent declarations, high sensitivity to small cost deltas)
• Any operator running tight finance approvals / prepaid limits for brokerage
What to update before 1 January 2026
- Quotations and rate cards: separate “customs release fee” as a clearly described line item and update it for 2026 logic.
- Broker alignment: confirm the broker has updated fee tables and clarify who is responsible for fee verification.
- Finance workflow: review payment limits and pre-approvals for high-value declarations so releases don’t pause waiting for extra approvals.
- Customer communication: send a short notice to key accounts that the customs-release fee line may change from 1 Jan 2026 and will be reflected in final clearance statements.
Growex comment
Most disruption comes from mismatched numbers between sales quotes, broker calculations, and finance approvals. A simple preventive step is to run three “dry-run” calculations in December (standard cargo, high-value cargo, electronics) with your broker and lock the updated templates for January operations.
Useful links
Customs clearance.
