Russian traders decry rampant counterfeiting, as proving product origin becomes a new hurdle for authentic brands.

Foreign media: Russian exporters are striving to regain Chinese consumers' trust amid rampant counterfeits undermining legitimate sales.

In 2024, Russian consumer goods surged in popularity across China, with "Russian merchandise stores" featuring blue-and-white branding appearing on shopping streets nationwide. However, the following year, media revelations of domestically produced items falsely labeled as Russian led to heightened consumer skepticism, resulting in declining sales of authentic products.

Vera Nikitina, representing Russian confectionery producer Belyov Pastila, was at a trade exhibition in Hong Kong not only seeking new buyers but also endeavoring to verify her product’s Russian origin. The company first entered the Chinese market in 2019 and established regular supply chains and a local office between 2022 and 2023. Now, it is forced to re-promote its brand through Chinese social media platforms to substantiate its provenance. “Counterfeiters make mistakes, but genuine producers pay the price,” she remarked.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1878132185758784/

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