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🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan /Economy & Trade

Wildberries warehouse move to Kazakhstan would raise prices, says source

From 24.kg · () Russian

Translated from Russian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Wildberries may move warehouses to Kazakhstan due to Ukrainian attacks, according to Russian media.
  • Kazakh authorities stated no official request has been received, and a high-ranking source confirmed the move would increase product prices.
  • Kazakhstan will monitor sanctions compliance and block dual-use goods transit to Russia.

Russian media reports suggest e-commerce giant Wildberries is considering relocating its warehouses to Kazakhstan, potentially as a response to Ukrainian attacks. However, Kazakh authorities have stated they have not received any official request regarding such a move.

A high-ranking source from Kazakhstan's political circles confirmed to DW that the relocation is being considered only as a hypothetical scenario. The source emphasized that such a move would inevitably lead to higher product prices. "The delivery of goods from Kazakh warehouses to consumers in European Russia will significantly lengthen the transport route. Given the falling purchasing power of the population in both countries, this will lead to higher prices and a drop in sales volumes," the source explained.

The delivery of goods from Kazakh warehouses to consumers in European Russia will significantly lengthen the transport route. Given the falling purchasing power of the population in both countries, this will lead to higher prices and a drop in sales volumes.

— High-ranking sourceExplaining the economic consequences of Wildberries moving warehouses to Kazakhstan.

Furthermore, the source pointed out a logistical challenge: Kazakhstan currently lacks any empty warehouses of 100,000 square meters or more. Existing major warehouse facilities are concentrated around large cities like Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent, with very few in cities bordering Russia such as Uralsk, Aktobe, Kostanay, and Petropavlovsk.

Kazakhstan also intends to strictly monitor compliance with international sanctions if goods are transited through its territory. "Kazakhstan will not allow its territory to be used for the supply of such goods. If attempts are made to re-export or export them to the Russian Federation, cargo subject to border control will be stopped and blocked," the source stressed.

Kazakhstan will not allow its territory to be used for the supply of such goods. If attempts are made to re-export or export them to the Russian Federation, cargo subject to border control will be stopped and blocked.

— High-ranking sourceStating Kazakhstan's policy on preventing the transit of sanctioned goods to Russia.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by 24.kg in Russian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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