Russia Recycling Fee Rises: Recost Landed Price

The bottom line: For vehicles bound for Russia, the line that eats margin is not the 15% import tariff but the utilization (recycling) fee. From 1 December 2025 Russia raised this one-off charge by type: under 1.0 L passenger cars +25%, 1.0 to 1.5 L +30%, SUVs and crossovers 1.5 to 3.0 L +35%, trucks over 5 t +40%, buses +30%, EVs and hybrids only +10%. Worse, from 2026 the fee is indexed up another 10% to 20% every year, so a quote that buries it can look profitable and actually lose money.

875 million rubles; from January 2026 the coefficient is 136.726 million rubles, roughly 850,000 rubles of new cost per unit.

At 2026 coefficients a 160 to 190 hp crossover owes about 900,000 rubles, roughly 8,500 dollars; a 2.4 million rubles, about 23,000 dollars; engines above 3.5 L push the fee past 3 million rubles. Next to the 15% import tariff, the recycling fee is usually the larger block of landed cost, and many dealers only notice the gap when cars are stuck at the border.

Move the recycling fee from hidden line to the first line of your quote. First, get the current Russian coefficient and horsepower band for the target model and recompute it yourself as horsepower times coefficient times the 20,000-ruble base. Second, write the rate-applicability rule into the contract: units cleared before a date at the old rate, after at the new, and who pays. Third, prefer models at or below 160 hp, where the coefficient is lowest. Send the spec to recost the current Russian fee and total landed cost.

What certifications are required to import used cars from China?
Requirements vary by destination (e.g. EAEU needs SBKTS/OTTC, GCC for the Middle East). EZ Auto handles compliant documents and certification per the destination customs, confirming clearance before shipment to avoid port hold-ups.

What recent policy changes affect Chinese vehicle exports?
EV subsidies are phasing out while export licensing and shipping capacity fluctuate. EZ Auto tracks destination tariffs and certification changes and updates them in the News section for procurement decisions.

Can an individual buy a car directly from China for export?
Possible, but with document and customs hurdles. Most buyers order through a licensed exporter like EZ Auto, which handles the contract, export declaration and destination paperwork; you only handle pickup and local registration.

What export documents are needed for used cars?
Core documents include the commercial invoice, packing list, export customs declaration, bill of lading and the destination's import clearance papers. EZ Auto prepares the full set before shipment to ensure smooth clearance abroad and avoid demurrage.

Do destination countries limit the age of imported vehicles?
New cars are mostly unrestricted; used cars often face an age cap (e.g. some Middle East and Africa markets require within 5-8 years). EZ Auto checks the destination's age rule before shipping and screens out non-compliant units to avoid rejection at port.

This article is published by EZ Auto. EZ Auto (Cheyixing Automobile Import & Export) specializes in exporting Chinese vehicles — new, used and parts — serving Latin America, Central Asia & CIS, Africa, the Middle East and the EU, with order-based sourcing, inspection with photo report, export documentation and ocean freight in one place.