Large Russian tire manufacturers appealed to the EEC with a demand to begin a protective investigation into imported passenger tires. The reason is a sharp jump in supplies from China, which already occupies a third of the Russian market, Kommersant reports.
“Large tire manufacturers, including Cordiant and Ikon Tires, are asking the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) to protect the Russian market from ever-increasing imports, primarily from China. The investigation could result in the introduction of quotas or duties on imports of about 30%,” the newspaper said.
In 2024, a record 25.8 million passenger tires were imported into Russia, and 25.4 million in 2025. China accounts for about 75% of supplies. Over the two months of 2026, China increased exports to the Russian Federation by 31% year-on-year, to $112 million. Against this background, the workload of Russian factories fell to 51%, and production decreased by 20%.
Cordiant General Director Dmitry Gorbachev is confident that duties will stabilize the market and will not lead to higher prices. However, Maxim Kadakov, editor-in-chief of the Za Rulem magazine, warns: for buyers of budget Chinese tires, the price increase may exceed the duty.
At the same time, the Ministry of Industry and Trade proposed banning tires with a high content of carcinogens. Cheap Chinese models will not be able to receive the “Honest Mark” label and will leave the market. A decision on duties is expected in the fall.
