Since March 2022, almost every fifth fitness equipment supplier from Europe and the U.S. has curtailed operations in the Russian market. Currently, a large share of fitness equipment is imported to the Russian market through parallel import schemes, a study conducted by the Russian National Fitness Community (NFS) showed. For example, Life Fitness, Cybex and Hammer Strength, Precor and Panatta all suspended sales on the Russian market. Technogym has downsized its presence on the market, as its local distributors are currently only “selling out product leftovers,” said Elena Silina, president of NSF (however, Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that Panatta is continuing sales on the Russian market and has no plans to leave it).
Nevertheless, Russian distributors are apparently not giving up. NFS claimed that local companies continue to import Western-branded fitness equipment through third countries using parallel import – a scheme approved by the Russian government in May 2022 that allows companies to import foreign goods without the consent of the brand owner.
The mass departure of Western firms took a heavy toll on the Russian industry. NFS estimated that 75 percent of Russian gyms experience certain problems with servicing their fitness equipment due to a lack of components and spare parts. Silina said that every company scrambles to find a solution. Some gyms are looking for alternative supply channels, while others are switching to older equipment.
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