Ready-made Chinese bakery products have definitively ceased to be a niche product and can now be found in almost every store. An analysis of store shelves from Vladivostok to Moscow—both in specialized Chinese grocery stores and major federal retail chains (Perekrestok, Magnit)—coupled with the latest customs statistics from the PRC, demonstrates a powerful new trend: a multiple-fold growth in the import of bakery products.

Ready-made buns with various fillings, such as chocolate, cheese, milk, and banana, are increasingly appearing on Russian store shelves

From Niche to Mass Market and Price Differences

An analysis of price tags clearly demonstrates the impact of the logistics chain on the final cost. Prices for the same product range from 75 to 149 rubles. For example, in a Chinese grocery store in Vladivostok operating via direct import from China, the price is 75 rubles. At the same time, in the federal retail chain Perekrestok, where the product arrives through a distributor, the cost reaches 149 rubles. Notably, with direct imports into the Magnit chain for a similar product of the same brand (Date - 约惠), the price remains highly competitive due to the absence of intermediaries.

For retail chains, amidst the rapidly growing trend for Asian products, this is an ideal item with high impulse appeal. Such pastry products have a long shelf life (from 180 days), are sold in individual packaging, and do not require refrigeration. Some products are supplied with Russified stickers, but some Chinese manufacturers are already printing Russian text directly on the original factory packaging.

GACC Statistics Confirm the Trend

Official data from the General Administration of Customs of the PRC (GACC) under HS code 190590 ("Other bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and other bakers' wares") show unprecedented dynamics in exports to Russia:

• 7.5-fold growth over 5 years: In 2020, exports of bakery products under this code amounted to 13.6 million yuan. By the end of 2025, it broke the all-time record, reaching 101.6 million yuan.
• Record start in 2026: In the first quarter of 2026 alone, Russia imported 28.78 million yuan (about $4 million) worth of such products. This is 60% more than in the same period of 2025 (17.9 million yuan).

A Window of Opportunity for Suppliers

The successful entry of the first Chinese brands into federal retail is a clear signal to other manufacturers: the Russian mass market is open to new formats of bakery snacks. However, to firmly establish a foothold in the market rather than just making a one-time shipment, Chinese factories need to implement a systematic approach.

Today, the key factors for success are deep packaging adaptation to local standards, targeted product promotion, and increasing the brand awareness of their own trademarks among end consumers.