The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation has proposed setting a zero customs duty rate for importing computer equipment into Russia for six months. The list can include:

• data storage systems;
• hard drives (tape drives, SSD and HDD, non-volatile storage devices);
• electronic integrated circuits, including microprocessors;
• semiconductor devices (diodes, transistors, sensors, controllers).

The measures are supposed to “help support Russian manufacturers of equipment until new supply chains and production within Russia are formed”. According to the source of Kommersant, in the government the idea did not cause apparent contradictions among the authorities: the proposal “can be approved before the end of March”.

Specialists from the Federal Customs Service note that currently customs duty is charged on goods, including tape drives, SSD and HDD and non-volatile data storage devices. The duty rate is from 1% to 13% depending on the category of goods.

According to IDC, in the fourth quarter of 2021, the size of the data storage systems market in Russia reached $211 million. This is 34.2% more compared to the same period in 2020.

Original (in Russian)