Russia says domestic light industry now accounts for 45% of market

Moscow says local light industry goods now hold 45% of the market, with the government aiming to raise that to 60% Domestic light-industry products now make up 45% of the Russian market, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov said on September 29 at the BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow.According to the minister, that figure is close to the current target of 50% set out in Russia’s Light Industry Development Strategy through 2035. He added that in the updated version of the strategy, which is expected to be approved by the end of 2026, the target share is likely to be raised to at least 60%.The minister said the clothing manufacturing segment is now entering a phase of market saturation. Production growth, which began after the departure of global brands from Russia, turned into a 3% decline in 2025.“We are reaching a plateau,” Alikhanov said.He noted that the market niches vacated by international brands had been filled partly by Russian producers and partly by imports from what Moscow describes as “friendly countries.”Even so, foreign-made goods still dominate the Russian market overall. In the minister’s view, one reason is that around half of Russian brands are conce...