Food suppliers in the Ural region of western Russia are increasing imports of seasonal fruits and vegetables from China, as exporters and logistics companies work to speed delivery and expand the range of products.
The first shipment under a new 300-million-yuan (about 44 million U.S. dollars) contract is being handled by the wholesale company BI Export.
"The shipment took a week from being loaded to arriving at our warehouse. Previously, when we purchased Chinese products, it took 15 to 21 days. Now, delivery times are almost three times quicker," said Evgeny Rozenblit, head of BI Export.
Under the contract, more than 20 types of fruits and vegetables will be shipped to the Ural region, including produce traditionally imported from former Soviet republics.
Exotic fruits from China such as lychee, mango, yellow dragonfruit and grapefruit are already well known in the Urals and have developed a loyal customer base. But other Chinese produce, such as melons, are less well known.
Customs officials in the Urals recently said that the first ever large shipment of melons from China had arrived and successfully passed phytosanitary inspection.
The truck carrying the melons also included a consignment of blueberries, considered among the most delicate fruits to store and transport.
"Today, a 15-ton shipment of blueberries, valued at over 7 million rubles (about 234,000 U.S. dollars) has arrived. Customs transit procedures have been completed. Russia's federal service for veterinary and phytosanitary supervision is inspecting the products, after which an electronic declaration will be issued," said Vladimir Feldsharov, head of the Yekaterinburg customs inspection post.
The regional Ministry of International and Foreign Economic Relations said the increase in business activity extends beyond food imports and other sectors are also expanding, while exports from Sverdlovsk Oblast to China continue to grow.
"Trade volume exceeded 3 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. China has long been a leading partner for Sverdlovsk Oblast, and by the end of 2025 we had surpassed 4 billion U.S. dollars. That represents enormous growth for us," said Oleg Alexandrin, deputy minister of international and foreign economic relations of Sverdlovsk Oblast.
BI Export is also exploring ways to further increase imports of fruits and vegetables from China. Deliveries will initially be made on a weekly basis, with plans to gradually increase frequency to daily shipments as demand for Chinese produce remains consistently strong.
Russia's Ural region boosts produce imports from China
