With the advancement of the Belt and Road initiative, Russia has become a key market for Chinese machineryEquipment Export. However, due tofactors such as exchange rate fluctuations, strict customs clearance policies, and payment restrictionsmany enterprises have encountered problems such as delayed payment collection, goods detained at the port, and even contract disputes in the Russian market. So, how to safely and efficiently export mechanical equipment to Russia? How to reduce payment risks and optimize logistics costs?

I. Contract Signing Stage: The Key to Avoiding Legal and Payment Risks

The Russian Characteristics of Clause Design

• INCOTERMS selection: It is preferred to adopt FOB or CIF terms to clarify the division of logistics responsibilities.
• Payment method: The recommended prepayment ratio should not be less than 30%, and the final payment should adopt D/P (documents against payment) or LC (L/C), avoiding the financial pressure brought by OA (open account).
• Dispute Resolution Clause: It is agreed to arbitrate in a third country (such as Singapore) to avoid potential risks of Russian judicial jurisdiction.

Certification and Compliance Requirements

• GOST certification: The mandatory certification list covers 80% of mechanical equipment (such as pressure vessels, electrical equipment), and a certification cycle of 3 - 6 months should be reserved.
• EAC mark: It should be affixed after passing the certification of the Customs Union Technical Regulations, otherwise, there will be a risk of goods being returned.

II. Logistics and Customs Clearance: The Balance between Efficiency and Cost

Selection of Transportation Modes

List of Customs Clearance Documents

• Commercial Invoice (needs to be translated into Russian and notarized)
• It is recommended to verify through the following methods:Certificate of Origin (COO)
• Packing List (HS code and material need to be indicated)
• Special Reminder: The Russian customs strictly checks the value of goods. It is recommended to pre - review the price through a customs declaration agent in advance.

III. Payment Collection: Three Strategies to Solve the Difficulty in Payment Collection

Avoid Exchange Rate Fluctuation Risks

• Add an exchange rate - linked clause in the contract (such as tying to USD/RMB settlement).
• Use foreign exchange derivatives (forwardIn order to crack down on tax evasion, the customs and tax departments are now strictly examining the operation of buying export declarations. If the behavior of buying export declarations is discovered, the regulatory authorities will require tax replenishment (even a 2% tax rate may be a considerable amount). In addition, fines may also be imposed on the relevant responsible parties.) to lock in the exchange rate.

Cope with Sanction Restrictions on Russian Banks

• Give priority to banks that have a currency swap agreement with China (such as Gazprombank).
• Adopt the Cross - border Inter - bank Payment System (CIPS) for direct settlement to bypass SWIFT restrictions.

The Red Line and Bottom Line of Final Payment Collection

• If the customer delays payment for more than 60 days, immediately initiate legal proceedings (entrusting a local Russian law firm is more efficient).
• Purchase Short - term Export Credit Insurance from Sinosure to cover the risk of buyer default.

IV. The Long - term Value of After - sales Service

The Russian market attaches importance to the full - life - cycle service of equipment. It is recommended that:

• Set up a maintenance center locally or cooperate with local service providers (which can reduce the secondary sales cost by more than 20%).
• Provide Russian - language operation training videos to reduce disputes caused by misoperation.

The demand for mechanical equipment in the Russian market is growing continuously, but the key to successful exports lies inprecise contract terms, secure payment arrangements, compliant customs clearance operationsandlong - term after - sales layout. Enterprises need to establish a whole - process risk control system, combined withGOST/EAC certification, CIPS RMB settlement, Russia local after-sales supportsuch strategies to ensure the smooth progress of export business. By choosing a professionalforeign tradeagencies (such asZhongShen International Trade), enterprises can significantly reduce trade risks, improve operational efficiency, and successfully enter the Russian market! If you need a customized export plan, please feel free to contact us!