In 2025–2026, Uzbekistan continues to increase its imports, while China is consolidating its status as the country’s largest foreign trade partner. Against this backdrop, food supplies from the People’s Republic of China are steadily expanding, although they still remain smaller in scale compared to Chinese exports of machinery, equipment, electronics and industrial goods. For the FMCG and food retail market, this is an important signal: the Chinese direction is no longer perceived exclusively as a source of non-food assortment and is increasingly entering Uzbekistan’s food matrix – primarily in the segments of ready-to-eat products, snacks, beverages, sauces, processed fruit and vegetables and food ingredients. Combined with the price flexibility of Chinese suppliers, the expansion of logistics corridors and the continued interest of Uzbek retailers in affordable imports, this forms a stable trend towards further strengthening of China’s position in the country’s food imports. China strengthens its position in Uzbekistan’s foreign trade  According to official statistics, in January 2026 China accounted for about 35 percent of Uzbekistan’s imports and ranked first among the country’s foreign trade partners. In 2025, trade turnover between China and Uzbekistan reached around 16.1 billion US dollars, having increased by nearly 18 percent compared to the previous year. At the same time, total imports of Uzbekistan in 2025 grew to approximately 47.4 billion US dollars, which is 18.5 percent higher than in 2024. This means that any expansion of Chinese export offerings automatically affects the country’s food market as well. Although official statistics often group goods into broader categories rather than providing open, detailed breakdowns for each food segment imported from China, the very logic of the trade structure shows that the higher the overall volume of imports from China, the more noticeable becomes the presence of Chinese food products, especially in categories with high turnover and strong price competition. Food imports from China are growing along with Uzbekistan’s overall food imports In 2025, Uzbekistan’s total food imports are estimated at about 4.5 billion US dollars, which is 23.5 percent higher than in the previous year. In April 2026 alone, food imports reached 564.4 million US dollars, showing a 43.4 percent year-on-year increase. This confirms that the country’s food imports are in an acceleration phase, which means that the window of opportunity for Chinese suppliers is also expanding. Within this structure, China is not yet the dominant supplier across all food categories. However, it is strengthening its position in those areas where price, manufacturing scale, flexible packaging and the ability to quickly adapt the assortment to the needs of distributors and retail chains are particularly important. First and foremost, this refers to ready-to-eat mass-market products, semi-finished foods, snack categories, beverages, sauces, confectionery, frozen and processed fruit and vegetables, as well as ingredients for the local food industry. Most promising categories The most significant potential for Chinese food imports to Uzbekistan is concentrated in several segments. Snacks and ready-to-eat products: chips, dry snacks, seaweed snacks, biscuits, cookies, Asian flavour lines, products targeting younger consumers and convenience retail. Beverages: tea-based drinks, functional beverages, ready-to-drink formats, juice-based drinks,  Asian-flavoured beverages and low-priced mass-market products for modern trade. Sauces, seasonings and Asian cuisine products: soy sauce, spicy sauces, instant noodles, broth bases, soup bases and culinary ingredients for both HoReCa and retail. Processed fruit and vegetables: canned, dried and frozen fruit and vegetables that fit well into the segment of affordable imports and are supported by resilient logistics. Ingredients for processing: food additives, flavourings, components for beverages and confectionery that are in demand among local manufacturers. An important point is that Uzbekistan remains a market with a fast-changing consumer structure. Urbanisation, the growth of modern trade and the expansion of assortments in retail chains create demand not only for basic products but also for low-priced novelties that allow retailers to refresh their shelves without a sharp increase in wholesale purchase prices. What supports demand for Chinese imports  One of the key drivers is state policy aimed at reducing the cost of certain imported categories. Until the end of 2025, Uzbekistan maintained zero customs duties on 36 categories of food and consumer goods. The list of preferential items included meat, fish, dairy products, vegetables, fruit, flour, grain, confectionery, sauces and a range of ready-made food products, which created a favourable environment for external suppliers, including Chinese exporters. The second factor is the development of transport connectivity between China and Central Asia. New and expanded corridors within the cooperation framework between China and the countries of the region reduce delivery times and transaction costs, which is especially important for FMCG categories with high delivery frequency and tough price competition. The third factor is Uzbekistan’s domestic consumer market, which in 2025–2026 remains on a growth trajectory and becomes increasingly attractive for international suppliers of mass-market products. While price sensitivity of the population remains high, local retailers are simultaneously looking for new formats, flavours and categories that can differentiate the shelf and attract younger audiences. Constraints and risks  Despite the positive dynamics, food imports from China to Uzbekistan face a number of constraints. First, official statistics do not always allow quick, open access to full, detailed breakdowns specifically for food categories imported from the People’s Republic of China without relying on specialised customs databases. This complicates precise assessment of China’s share in individual categories and requires additional verification by HS codes. Second, requirements for food safety and quality remain strict. When importing controlled products into Uzbekistan, authorities apply documentary, physical and laboratory checks, which raises the bar for certification, labelling and the stability of suppliers. For Chinese manufacturers, this means the need to localise their offerings more deeply for the Central Asian market, including adapting recipes, packaging and, in some cases, obtaining halal certification and tailoring branding to local norms. Third, competition is intensifying. In food imports, suppliers from Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries hold strong positions, especially in basic categories where logistics are simpler or traditional trade ties are stronger. As a result, Chinese companies are most competitive in those segments where they can offer not only a low price, but also new product formats, innovative assortment or flexible private label solutions. Implications for retail and distribution  For retail chains, distributors and importers in Uzbekistan, the Chinese direction is becoming increasingly attractive as a source of low-cost and quickly scalable food SKUs. This looks particularly promising in the niches of snacks, beverages, sauces, Asian cuisine, functional products and in the segment of contract manufacturing for private labels. From a strategic perspective, the market is entering a phase where Chinese food suppliers can compete not only on price but also on speed of product launch, packaging and assortment customisation for local retail. For modern trade in Uzbekistan, this opens opportunities to expand the offer without sharply increasing final prices for consumers, while local distributors can build more profitable portfolios in impulse demand categories. For the market of Uzbekistan, Chinese food products today are no longer an occasional import, but an emerging direction with clear commercial logic. As modern trade, demand for ready-to-eat solutions and private label strategies develop, the role of the People’s Republic of China in food imports will strengthen primarily in high-rotation, flexible and price-sensitive categories. The main conclusion for retail and suppliers is to look at China not only as a source of non-food assortment but also as a full-fledged platform for developing the next generation of food categories – from snacks and beverages to ingredients and Asian cuisine products. Over the next 12–24 months, the speed of assortment adaptation to local demand will largely determine who can secure the best positions in this direction.

Hard-discount grocery formats in Russia are no longer perceived as “stores for the poor”. They are becoming the preferred choice for increasingly demanding, rational shoppers who carefully manage their household budgets. “Smart consumption” – when households consciously optimize spending, build baskets around value for money, and plan shopping routes and frequency – is turning from an anti-crisis reaction into a stable behavior pattern. For retailers and suppliers, this means rethinking strategy: from assortment and pricing to private label development and supplier relations. Industry data show that more than 80% of Russian consumers now shop in discounters, and almost half of them do so more often than a year ago. For shoppers, these stores are not only about low prices: they expect predictable quality, a clear and compact assortment, and fewer “extra” SKUs whose marketing they ultimately pay for. The discounter format is becoming part of everyday logistics: people optimize routes, reduce large spontaneous hypermarket trips, and increasingly “top up” their basket at nearby discount stores. The audience profile is also changing. The share of households with middle and above-average income is growing in discounters: these are the “smart” consumers who refuse to overpay for a brand but are ready to pay for a honest, reliable product. For them, transparent ingredients, clear packaging, and the absence of imposed services and pseudo-discounts are critical. As a result, price competition is shifting from aggressive promotions towards cost optimization and expansion of retailers’ own private labels. Private labels are becoming a key tool for capturing “smart” demand. Retailers actively increase the share of PL in turnover, using it to offer shoppers the required quality at a controlled price while strengthening their bargaining power with manufacturers. For producers, this is both a challenge and an opportunity: they must meet strict retailer specifications, but in return they can gain stable volumes and long-term contracts in a fast-growing format. “Smart” consumption is also changing communication with shoppers. Instead of eye-catching “-50% on everything” campaigns, there is growing demand for honest comparisons, clear unit pricing, and simple product lines without excessive flavor or packaging variations. Consumers are better informed and increasingly compare not only brands, but also channels – offline chains, marketplaces and specialized stores – before making a decision. “For suppliers, including Chinese FMCG manufacturers, the trend towards ‘smart’ consumption in discounters is no longer just background noise – it is a basic entry requirement for the shelf,” notes RetailChina.pro. “Buyers in retail chains are increasingly asking: ‘Give us a product that fits the economics of our private label or a clear, rational product line – not just another brand with a nice story.’ This means Chinese factories must adapt recipes, packaging and logistics to tougher requirements on cost and consistent quality.” “We also see rising interest from retailers in basic, everyday SKUs – grains, snacks, beverages, ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products for daily use that are easy to explain to the shopper and easy to integrate into a regular basket,” the company adds. “Chinese suppliers who design products starting from the chain’s checklist – transparent ingredients, convenient pack sizes, rational pricing and readiness to work in private label or exclusive formats – will win. In the coming years, these products will largely define what the discount shelf looks like in Russia and across the CIS.”

Russian retail chains are fundamentally altering their requirements for suppliers of food and non-food products. The utilization of eco-friendly materials is becoming a key prerequisite for product placement on supermarket shelves. The primary trends of the current year include the transition to mono-materials (pure polyethylene or polypropylene), the reduction of consumer packaging weight, and the mandatory use of safe inks for industrial printing. "The recyclability and eco-friendliness of packaging are becoming mandatory criteria for manufacturers to secure shelf space in major chains. Retailers require partners to provide eco-certificates, phase out plastic lamination, and supply goods in recyclable packaging," stated the Association of Food Manufacturers and Suppliers (Rusprodsoyuz). "In addition to tightening requirements for suppliers, the retail sector is transitioning its own private labels to mono-materials and is highly interested in the development of recycling," affirmed the Association of Retail Companies (AKORT). Economic and Legislative Drivers Traditionally, approximately 70% of the total assortment on store shelves is sold in combined (multi-layer) packaging. Historically, this has reliably protected products from moisture, light, and external factors. However, the disposal of such packaging requires the complex physical separation of materials, rendering the process economically unviable. Containers made from mono-materials are easily processed and seamlessly returned to the secondary plastic recycling loop. By adopting these new solutions, market participants are not merely following trends but are also hedging their businesses against significant costs that could arise in the event of a complete legislative ban on multi-component packaging. Technological Alternatives Already on the Market Modern mono-packaging is capable of providing the same barrier properties as multi-component alternatives. There are already successful implementation cases in the Russian market. For instance, Gotek Group and Danaflex are actively producing recyclable packaging for coffee, tea, sauces, and other products requiring stringent protection from oxygen and light. The transition to mono-materials is a logical market development scenario; thus, it is economically viable for businesses to invest in the adaptation of production processes today, rather than attempting to reduce costs through the use of outdated materials. Market Analytics: A Window of Opportunity for China According to analysts, the total volume of the Russian packaging market reached 1.7 trillion rubles in 2025–2026. Amid active import substitution and the exit of Western brands, China has become the absolute leader in supplying raw materials and ready-made packaging solutions to the Russian Federation, accounting for up to 60% of the import structure for such equipment and materials. Russian retailers and manufacturers are experiencing a substantial need for reliable suppliers across the entire product range: from small packaging and specialized dispensers for cosmetic chains to heavy industrial containers. For Chinese enterprises ready to offer recyclable mono-material packaging to the market, unprecedented prospects are emerging for securing long-term contracts on Russian B2B platforms.

Dynamics of Import Growth In 2025, a significant increase in poultry meat supplies from the People's Republic of China was recorded in the Russian meat market. According to industry associations, the volume of poultry imported from the PRC exceeded 110,000 metric tons over the past year; concurrently, Russia’s aggregate poultry imports in 2025 reached 327,400 tons, reflecting a 6.3% year-on-year increase. Thus, the share of Chinese products in the structure of foreign poultry meat supplies approached 30%. The core of Chinese exports consists of chicken breast fillet, which is supplied to processors. The average monthly supply volume is estimated at 20 thousand tons. Over the past three years, the total volume of chicken fillet imported from the PRC has grown by almost 39 times. Regulation and Bilateral Relations Amidst the growth in supplies, regulatory authorities are monitoring the quality of imported products. In May 2026, Rosselkhoznadzor imposed import restrictions on two large Chinese poultry enterprises due to the detection of listeria in frozen fillet. In parallel, a course towards the expansion of bilateral food trade has been consolidated at the interstate level. During the visit of the President of the Russian Federation to Beijing, a joint declaration was signed, which provides for a further increase in purchases of livestock products and the admission of new Chinese poultry meat production enterprises to the Russian market. The growth in chicken fillet imports from the PRC indicates the strengthening role of the price factor in the purchasing policy of Russian meat processors, whereas for the domestic market, the key issues are the balance between the availability of raw materials, the stability of local production, and compliance with veterinary requirements. Against this background, the further development of the situation will depend on a combination of two parallel processes: the expansion of bilateral agreements on the supply of livestock products and the maintenance of strict quality control of imported products by Russian supervisory authorities.

By 2026, the functional food segment in Russia and the CIS has moved into a phase of full-scale mass demand. Functional products are growing faster than traditional FMCG categories, while governments and industry institutions are building dedicated standards and certification infrastructure for this market. Russia remains the core market in the region and the main entry point for foreign suppliers of functional products. In 2025, the country launched a voluntary certification system, “Roskachestvo – Functional Nutrition,” under which around 100 products from eight manufacturers received official confirmation of their functional properties. This effectively created a new segment on the shelf – products with proven added health benefits. In parallel, industry analytics report a steady rise in high-protein and functional launches: by the end of 2025, these SKUs accounted for up to 5% of all new product introductions, making functional food one of the main drivers of innovation in the food industry. For consumers, this means more trust anchors and a wider choice of better-for-you alternatives in familiar categories – from dairy and bakery to snacks and spreads. For manufacturers and retailers, it implies a higher quality threshold, but also the opportunity to work in a premium price segment with structurally strong demand. In other CIS countries – primarily Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan – functional nutrition is being integrated into broader public health policies focused on promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases. National healthy eating programmes developed and updated between 2020 and 2025 set targets for increasing life expectancy and reducing the share of the population suffering from obesity and cardiovascular diseases, partly by shifting diets towards healthier food options. In practice, this translates into support measures for manufacturers, educational campaigns and growing interest from retailers in functional products as a category that combines social impact with commercial potential. For the CIS market as a whole, this sets a long-term trajectory: functional food is moving beyond a short-lived trend to become an integral part of systemic population health strategies. For Chinese producers of functional foods and ingredients, Russia and the CIS rank among the most promising export destinations in 2025–2026. Chinese companies have strong competencies in foodtech, alternative proteins, sugar substitutes (including sweet proteins), probiotics and “smart” beverages, enabling them to offer turnkey products and ingredient platforms tailored to Russian and Eurasian regulatory requirements. Key opportunities for Chinese brands in the CIS include: – Supplying ready-to-consume functional products – beverages, snacks, enriched desserts and spreads – with localised packaging and formulations to meet Russian and EAEU regulations. – Exporting functional ingredients such as plant proteins, sweet proteins, maltitol, oligofructose, probiotic cultures and vitamin-mineral premixes for Russian and regional manufacturers developing their own functional lines under local brands. – Building joint projects with retail chains and local producers to launch private label functional ranges – a particularly relevant format given rising consumer trust in grocery store brands. A major competitive advantage of Chinese players is their ability to deliver comprehensive solutions: from R&D and ingredient development to finished products and technical support for local production facilities. This reduces risk and shortens time-to-market for functional innovations in the CIS. For Chinese manufacturers targeting Russia and the wider CIS, 2025–2026 is the time to move from opportunistic shipments to a structured presence in the functional segment. Recommended priorities include: – Designing product lines in line with Russian and Eurasian regulatory requirements for functional foods, with predefined levels of protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals and reduced sugars that fit certification criteria. – Developing recipes with potential certification in Russia (via “Roskachestvo – Functional Nutrition”) and similar mechanisms that may be introduced in other CIS markets, so that products are ready for official confirmation of functional properties. – Creating products in formats familiar to local consumers – kefir-like drinks, curd desserts, spreads, bars, biscuits – but with added functional value, rather than focusing solely on exotic concepts. – Building partnerships with Russian and regional manufacturers and retail chains for local bottling, packing and private label production, which lowers market entry barriers and increases trust in the brand. According to RetailChina.pro, 2025–2026 is a turning point for the integration of Chinese functional products into Russia and CIS markets. The regulatory framework and consumer demand are already in place, while shelf supply still lags behind potential. For Chinese producers, this is a rare window of entry when they can position themselves not only as suppliers of finished goods, but as strategic partners for retailers and local factories, bringing their own R&D, ingredient solutions and private label projects. RetailChina.pro experts believe the next two to three years will be critical for the allocation of market shares in the CIS functional segment. Companies that are already building long-term partnerships, adapting formulations to certification requirements and investing in educational projects with retailers will secure a lasting competitive edge. The platform’s mission is to provide a transparent communication channel between Chinese manufacturers and regional retailers, reduce counterparty risks and accelerate the rollout of functional products on shelves in Russia and across the CIS.

China’s Ministry of Commerce has announced that bilateral trade between China and Russia reached 85.2 billion US dollars in the January–April 2026 period, up 19.7 percent year-on-year and marking what officials described as “a good start” to the year. The ministry underlined that the two countries intend to “firmly safeguard their right to independent development” of trade and economic cooperation. The statement followed the Russian president’s visit to China in May, during which the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership and expanding mutual trade. According to the Chinese side, bilateral trade continues to grow across both energy and non‑energy sectors, including industrial goods, equipment and consumer products. Officials from the Ministry of Commerce noted that the dynamics seen in the first four months of 2026 provide a strong foundation for further growth in trade by the end of the year. The ministry highlighted plans to enhance logistics connectivity, strengthen the resilience of supply chains and further develop cross‑border e‑commerce between the two countries. RetailChina.pro notes that the latest statement from China’s Ministry of Commerce effectively confirms high‑level political support for further expansion of bilateral trade, including in the consumer goods and FMCG segment. For Chinese manufacturers of food, beverages and everyday non‑food products, this signals a widening window of opportunity to enter the Russian and broader CIS markets through local distributors, retail chains and marketplaces. Against the backdrop of tighter import controls and product labelling requirements in Russia, partners that are ready to work through fully compliant channels, adapt products to local regulations and build long‑term cooperation with regional retailers are likely to have a competitive advantage.

The authorities of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries are synchronously tightening control over the safety of imported products and closing legal loopholes for the use of fake documents. Following strict restrictions from the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan identified and invalidated 1,113 fake certificates and declarations of conformity issued by EAEU countries. These documents were massively used by importers to bring products from third countries without actually conducting laboratory tests and confirming safety standards. Structure of Violations: Dominance of Kyrgyz Certificates According to official statistics from the Ministry of Trade of Kazakhstan for May 2026, the vast majority of the annulled documents were processed through laboratories and certification bodies of the Kyrgyz Republic. They accounted for 742 documents (66.7% of the total). For comparison: 244 annulled documents were issued by bodies of the Russian Federation, and 11 by the Republic of Belarus. Representatives of the relevant departments note that using the jurisdiction of Kyrgyzstan for the mass processing of permissive documentation without providing real samples for testing has long remained a common practice among importers seeking to speed up and reduce the cost of customs clearance. Russia Expands Blocking Powers Kazakhstan's actions are a continuation of a systemic trend previously initiated by the Russian Federation. On February 7, 2026, Government Decree No. 87 came into force in the Russian Federation, significantly expanding the powers of Rosakkreditatsiya (Federal Accreditation Service) to control documents issued in other EAEU countries. Now, the Russian agency has the right to immediately suspend foreign certificates based on information from the Federal Customs Service (FCS) if: there is no confirmation that test samples actually crossed the border; non-compliance of products with safety requirements is revealed based on the results of customs examination; legitimate test reports are missing. Moreover, a strict rule has been introduced against violators: if certificates of one foreign EAEU body are suspended three or more times within a year, Rosakkreditatsiya has the right to annul the validity of absolutely all documents issued by this body in the Russian Federation over the subsequent 12 months. In practice, the new rules are already being applied: starting February 9, 2026, Russia has terminated the validity of documents issued by five certification bodies of the Kyrgyz Republic. In response to severe sanctions from EAEU partners and to normalize the situation in the domestic market, the authorities of Kyrgyzstan were also forced to begin a large-scale cleanup: the accreditation of a number of private conformity assessment bodies caught issuing fake documents is being suspended and annulled in the country. Impact on International Trade The tightening of control and the massive annulment of certificates are radically changing logistics rules for exporters from third countries, in particular from China. The practice of processing "fast" certificates through third-party EAEU jurisdictions now carries direct financial risks: products with dubious documents are not allowed into circulation, cargo is blocked at customs, and transport vehicles are subject to return. For uninterrupted deliveries to the markets of the EAEU countries, manufacturers and importers must transition to processing permissive documentation exclusively through legitimate accredited bodies directly in the country of final sale, with the mandatory official import of samples for real laboratory testing.

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) has significantly simplified logistics rules along international transport corridors. According to the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) press service, transport companies are no longer required to obtain special permits for the transit of heavy goods vehicles through the territory of the association's member states. Cost Optimization The removal of excessive bureaucratic barriers allows carriers to deliver batches of goods in their entirety. The need to artificially split cargo to pass formal procedures under old regulations has disappeared. According to the department's estimates, the direct financial benefit for transport and trade businesses from this innovation can reach 15% in some cases. "This is a landmark event, confirming the focus of the 'five' countries on creating a single transport space," emphasized EEC Minister for Energy and Infrastructure Arzybek Kozhoshev. Significance for Chinese Food Imports For Chinese food exporters, this measure is a major logistical advantage. Using transit land routes through Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan to deliver food products to Russia becomes faster and more predictable. The ability to transport entire batches without splitting is critically important for food products, as it eliminates unnecessary reloading stages in warehouses, minimizes the risks of temperature regime violations, and preserves the integrity of factory packaging.

The Federal Customs Service (FCS) of Russia has officially confirmed its status as the main controlling body of the new import traceability system (SPOT). Starting June 1, 2026, new rules for importing goods by road transport from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries will come into force. The agency has already prepared the regulatory framework to block violators directly at border checkpoints. Grounds for returning cargoAccording to the Order of the FCS of Russia No. 380 dated May 6, 2026, an official form of a directive obliging a cargo vehicle to immediately leave the territory of the Russian Federation has been approved. Inspectors will issue departure directives in three cases: The driver lacks a visualized link (a unique QR code). The document on the upcoming delivery of goods (DOPP) lacks the required status permitting entry. Identification of any discrepancies between the information specified in the DOPP electronic system and the actual data in the shipping documents provided by the carrier. For Chinese food exporters sending cargo via overland transit through EAEU countries (for example, Kazakhstan or Belarus), this marks the beginning of a zero-tolerance period for errors in logistics documentation. Any inaccuracy in TN VED (HS) codes, batch weight, or requisite details will lead to the truck being forcibly turned back across the border. This threatens significant financial losses and food spoilage due to temperature regime violations during downtime.

Interest in Chinese dairy and chilled products in Russia and the wider EAEU is gradually increasing, but the actual scale of imports remains constrained less by demand than by infrastructure and regulation. The most sensitive categories are yogurt, dairy desserts, fresh milk products, and chilled ready meals. In these segments, the long cold chain from China to Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus is not just a logistics challenge; it is the main factor that determines whether the business case works at all. In 2025–2026, the EAEU market is sending two signals at once. On the one hand, internal dairy production within the union remains strong: Belarus is expected to exceed 9 million tons of milk output in 2025, while Russia exported more than $500 million worth of dairy products in 2025, led by cheese, fermented dairy, and ice cream. On the other hand, this does not eliminate demand for niche, innovative, and Asian-style categories, especially in big cities and the premium modern-trade segment. Why the cold chain remains the key barrier For milk powder, ice cream, or shelf-stable dairy, logistics is comparatively predictable: products travel longer, temperature control is more forgiving, and shelf life offers more room for delay. Chilled categories are very different. If the product must remain in a stable chilled range and has a short or medium shelf life, every leg of the route — factory, consolidation warehouse, border crossing, distribution center, retail shelf — becomes a risk point. The problem is not just distance. More importantly, the China–EAEU route for chilled products is often multimodal, involving different transport modes, transshipment points, and several logistics operators. That increases the chance of temperature deviations, delays, document mismatches, and shelf-life loss before the product even reaches the store. For chilled yogurt or dairy desserts, even a small delay can mean not simply higher cost, but the loss of the entire batch. Regulation puts additional pressure on unit economics Even when logistics is well managed, imports of chilled dairy and milk-based ready meals into the EAEU face strict veterinary and technical requirements. Unified EAEU veterinary rules allow imports of milk and dairy products only from compliant territories and facilities, while amendments to union technical regulations continue tightening maximum residue levels for veterinary medicines in food products of animal origin. In practical terms, this means a Chinese exporter needs more than a good product and a refrigerated warehouse. It needs an approved facility, correctly issued veterinary documentation, traceability, compliant labeling, and a local partner that understands how the product moves through Russian, Kazakh, or Belarusian control systems. For highly perishable chilled products, paperwork errors are far more expensive than in dry or frozen categories because the time available to fix them is limited by the product’s own commercial life. Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus are three different entry scenarios Although these markets sit within the same EAEU framework, the real entry models differ. Russia is the largest and most attractive market, but also the most demanding in terms of logistics, retail scale, and sell-through expectations. Kazakhstan is interesting as a more compact test market, yet researchers note that weak cold-chain infrastructure remains a constraint in convenience and frozen foods, while the market is becoming more selective about imported innovation. Belarus, by contrast, has a strong domestic dairy base and a mature understanding of cold logistics, which makes it less of a simple sales market and more of a potential hub for processing, repacking, and industrial partnership. Case 1: why major Chinese dairy players historically leaned toward shelf-stable and frozen categories The strategic logic of China’s largest dairy groups is revealing. Morningstar notes that Yili historically focused on UHT milk and yogurt segments in light of the still underdeveloped cold-chain system even within China itself. Mengniu reported growth in chilled yogurt, fresh milk, cheese, and ice cream in 2025, but this expansion was built on a deep domestic distribution network and internal diversification, not on large-scale long-distance exports of chilled products. For the EAEU, this sends an important message. Even large Chinese dairy companies with advanced domestic supply chains usually build chilled scale at home first, and only then approach more complex long-distance formats. That suggests that entry into Russia, Kazakhstan, or Belarus is more likely to succeed when brands start with shelf-stable dairy, frozen or semi-finished solutions, or local manufacturing partnerships, rather than attempting direct exports of short-life chilled SKUs from day one. Case 2: the hybrid model through local processing A second workable model is to avoid shipping a finished chilled yogurt or dessert all the way from China into the EAEU. Instead, the value chain is split. Starters, bases, fillings, flavor systems, packaging solutions, or semi-finished components with more stable logistics are shipped from China, while final processing, filling, or assembly of the chilled product takes place in Russia or Belarus. Commercially, this reduces pressure on the cold chain, simplifies part of the veterinary and customs process, and allows shelf life to be calibrated to local retail realities. This model is especially relevant for dairy desserts, drinking yogurts, and chilled ready meals with milk components, where success on shelf depends not only on taste, but also on the remaining shelf life at the moment the retailer accepts the goods. Where the growth point lies in 2026 The paradox is that cold chain is both the bottleneck and the opportunity. Globally, chilled remains the largest segment of cold chain logistics, while Russia’s food logistics market continues to grow in value, meaning that infrastructure will keep expanding alongside demand. Demand fundamentals are also moving in the right direction: ready meals, convenience formats, and more sophisticated dairy categories are gradually developing across the region, especially in large urban centers and modern retail. For Chinese companies, this means cold chain should be treated not only as a technical problem, but as part of go-to-market strategy. Over the next 12–24 months, the strongest chances will belong to those that enter in stages: first with shelf-stable or frozen products, then with hybrid models involving local packing or finishing, and only after that with direct chilled imports for selected premium SKUs in cities with stable cold-chain infrastructure. From a market perspective, Chinese chilled dairy products and ready-to-eat refrigerated meals have real potential in the EAEU — but only with the right market‑entry architecture. The mistake many suppliers make is trying to sell into Russia, Kazakhstan, or Belarus with exactly the same products and go‑to‑market logic they use inside China. In practice, for retail chains and importers, taste and price are only part of the equation; what also matters is remaining shelf life, temperature stability along the entire route, legal cleanliness of the import process, and the supplier’s ability to deliver consistent batches over time. RetailChina.pro does not see its role as promising “fast contracts” in a complex chilled category, but rather as designing the right route for a brand to enter the region. For some companies, this means starting with more logistically robust SKUs and testing demand through distribution or retail pilots; for others, it means finding an industrial partner in Russia or Belarus and moving the final assembly of the product closer to the shelf. This approach reduces risk for all parties and makes the Chinese brand visible not just in a single market, but across the broader EAEU and CIS ecosystem.

Mongolia’s agro-industrial sector has faced a serious shortage of seed potatoes caused by the large-scale drought of 2025. In order not to disrupt the current planting campaign, the country has been forced to urgently compensate for the raw material shortage through external markets. At present, international contracts have already been concluded for the import of about 4 thousand tons of seed material from the Russian Federation. “Russian seed potatoes are now effectively sustaining the parameters of the planting campaign, despite the high price and cautious demand from farmers,” said Mongolia’s Minister of Agriculture. In the domestic market, the cost of imported seeds reaches high levels — from 1,800 to 2,300 tugriks per kilogram, forcing local agricultural enterprises to approach procurement in an extremely pragmatic manner. Chinese producers and investors can take leading positions in this market by offering: Comprehensive solutions for vegetable storage, including modern hangars and climate control systems. Drip irrigation systems and agricultural machinery. Joint projects to localize seed production bases using drought-resistant varieties of Asian breeding. Flexible financial instruments, including equipment leasing for farmers sensitive to high prices.

In recent years, major Russian and CIS retail chains have sharply increased direct procurement from China and expanded the share of their private‑label products. Partly this is a reaction to the exit of several international brands; partly it is a strategic choice, as retailers want tighter control over assortment, pricing, and quality. What does the entry process look like for a Chinese supplier? Unlike in China, where a quick contact and a flexible pilot order can be enough to start, working with a large retailer in Russia or the CIS is a formal, multi‑stage process. First, the buying team builds a category strategy: which price segments they want to cover, under which brands, and what share of private label versus national brands they need on the shelf. Next, the chain looks for suppliers for a specific task: to manufacture a private‑label range, to supply a finished brand under direct import, or to work as an OEM/ODM partner for a local distributor. Before negotiations begin, the supplier passes an initial screening: financial stability, production capacity, certifications, and compliance with Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) rules, including EAC marking and veterinary or other mandatory approvals. Then come test shipments, deliveries to distribution centers, in‑store promotions, and an assessment of sell‑through. Only after a successful pilot does the chain scale up purchases. For many Chinese factories this is unusual: they expect a quick “we like your product – here is the order”, but in reality the cycle can take from several months to a full year. Why are retailers increasingly buying directly instead of through intermediaries? Large Russian and CIS chains have set up their own sourcing teams for China and dedicated direct‑import departments. A direct contract allows them to remove part of the intermediary margin and keep shelf prices within a range that is very sensitive for consumers. Retailers also want transparency: to see the factory, understand the real cost structure, and have influence over formulation, packaging, and logistics. Many of them are building long‑term categories around Chinese suppliers and do not want to depend on a local importer who may change priorities or leave the market. As a result, the role of the classic importer is changing: from “the sole owner of the brand” to a service partner for both the chain and the factory, responsible for certification, logistics, and operational support. Why are private labels and direct imports gaining share? According to INFOLine, in 2024 private‑label sales among the top‑10 Russian FMCG retailers grew by about 24% to roughly 2.35 trillion rubles, with private labels approaching one quarter of their total turnover. This is not a short‑term spike, but a deliberate strategy. Private labels give retailers a unique proposition on the shelf and allow much finer control over margins and price positioning. After some international brands left, gaps appeared on the shelves that were often easier to fill with private‑label products than by searching for a new global supplier. Chinese factories are a natural fit for private label: flexible manufacturing, a wide portfolio of ready‑made recipes, and experience with international quality standards. For the same reasons, direct import is also growing: it is often more attractive for a retailer to work directly with key Chinese manufacturers than to buy from traders with less transparency and higher prices. Why do many Chinese brands struggle to understand how to enter a chain? The core issue is that the “rules of the game” are different. In China, a brand can often enter via a marketplace, a trade show, or personal connections, and then fine‑tune operational details later. In Russia and the CIS, without a pre‑built supply model, documentation, EAC certification, logistics scheme, and clear price architecture, the buyer simply will not consider the offer. Chinese companies rarely prepare a fully fledged, retailer‑ready package: commercial terms, guaranteed supply, marketing support, and service conditions — all in one proposal and in a format that buyers can easily present internally. This is why many factories feel, “We sent them our catalogue, but there is no reply.” From the retailer’s point of view, a catalogue is not an offer but a raw signal that cannot be taken to the commercial director as a serious business case. From the perspective of Russian and CIS retailers, the situation is quite logical: they need clear, comparable offers from reliable factories, not dozens of scattered PDFs and business cards collected at trade fairs. This is where specialized B2B platforms come into play, connecting Chinese factories and regional chains in a single funnel. RetailChina.pro is a closed O2O platform that translates the “Chinese” sales logic into the language of Russian and CIS category managers. We help factories assemble a full package that meets retailers’ requirements — assortment, pricing, EAC, logistics, marketing support — and present these proposals directly to the people who actually make buying decisions. For retailers, this means saving time and reducing risk: instead of chaotic incoming contacts, they receive a curated pool of manufacturers and a transparent communication format. For Chinese brands, it provides a clear entry point into the region and the ability to work not only with Russia, but simultaneously with several EAEU and CIS markets through a single interface. We do not promise “guaranteed contracts” — the outcome always depends on the product, pricing, and the factory’s willingness to play by modern retail rules. But we do guarantee something else: every partner on our platform approaches buyers with a complete cooperation proposal on behalf of a Chinese brand and becomes visible not just in one country, but across the wider Russia–CIS region.