The Chinese company Huawei intends to leave the Russian market, stopping work with local counterparties directly. The smartphone and electronics maker intends to close its head office. He also stopped the supply of new goods to Russia, focusing on the sale of leftovers. Izvestia writes about this with reference to sources in the market.
“Huawei does not really supply its devices to Russia directly now,” one of the sources close to one of the cellular companies confirmed to the publication.
The Moscow office of the Chinese company is likely to close on February 1, 2023 – it is from this date that the premises in the Krylatsky Hills business center are offered for rent. Its cost is 8 million rubles a month. At the moment, the company is focused on the sale of product balances, new products are not delivered to Russia.
However, according to the publication, this decision does not mean the complete absence of the Chinese company's products in Russia: Huwaei goods will be imported through gray imports through intermediaries or official distributors. Maria Krivtsova, PR manager of the Consumer Business Group, who represents Huawei in Russia, did not confirm this, only noting that she "does not have such information." Also, the company's departure from the Russian market is hinted at by the relocation of employees of the Moscow office to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the newspaper notes.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Chinese brands have avoided directly supporting Russia in the conflict, fearing Western sanctions. Many of them secretly leave the Russian market or cease cooperation. The exception is the automotive industry, where Chinese brands are increasing their presence, but due to the poverty of Russians and declining consumer demand, they are in no hurry to increase their expansion.