Russian Exporters Face Sales Decline as Fake Goods Undercut Legitimate Products in China
A representative from Russian confectionery producer Belyov Pastila Manufacture noted that sales began to decline after Chinese media exposed instances where locally made items were falsely marketed as Russian imports, impacting legitimate exporters.
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According to the South China Morning Post, industry insiders suggest that products falsely advertised as Russian are negatively affecting the sales of legitimate exporters from Russia. Vera Nikitina, who represents the Russian confectionery producer Belyov Pastila Manufacture, was seeking new buyers at a two-day trade exhibition in Hong Kong earlier this week, while also attempting to assure attendees that the company's merchandise was authentically made in Russia.
Belyov Pastila Manufacture initially attempted to enter the Chinese market in 2019, before commencing regular shipments and setting up a local office during 2022-23. The company experienced sales growth in 2024, which coincided with a surge in Chinese demand for Russian consumer goods. During that year, Russian consumer goods became a notable trend in China, with establishments described as blue and white so-called Russian goods halls appearing in shopping streets and malls nationwide. These locations often featured Russian music and Cyrillic signage to attract shoppers.
However, Nikitina stated that this period of growth did not continue for long, as the company's sales started to decline the subsequent year after Chinese media uncovered instances of locally produced items being marketed as Russian imports.
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