Despite Western brands like Nike and Lego exiting Russia after the Ukraine invasion, Dutch businessman Wijnand Herinckx is importing these products into Russia through intermediaries and routes like Turkey. His firm, HTS Rus, has increased the flow of goods, with Nike imports to Russia rebounding to $74 million in 2023.
Russia’s parallel import laws allow goods without the trademark owner’s permission, keeping Western brands available to Russian consumers. Herinckx’s company employs 82 people, forecasting $37 million in revenue for 2024. He previously worked for Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, which left Russia after the invasion.
Lego and Nike have expressed concerns over unauthorized imports. Despite this, products like Nike’s Phantom GT2 Elite soccer boots reach Russian retailers, including footballstore.ru, owned by Zenit soccer club, part-owned by Gazprombank. These imports show ongoing demand and supply for Western brands in Russia.
