Russian marketplaces shape single market for EAEU, CIS vendors — Ozon

Lead

ST. PETERSBURG — Russian online marketplaces are evolving into integrated platforms that connect sellers from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) with new markets, according to statements made at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) this week.

Natalya Boer, CEO of Ozon CIS, described the platforms as "a single market point" that enables sellers from the EAEU and CIS to promote products across borders while giving buyers access to a wider range of goods. "That is precisely the main advantage and value of this single Eurasian market," she told a forum session.

Coverage comparison

Two separate reports from TASS, the Russian state news agency, covered the developments. One focused on Boer's remarks about the integration and growth of Ozon's cross-border marketplace, while the other highlighted comments from Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Roman Chekushov on the expanding geographic footprint of Russian marketplace logistics. Both reports were published from SPIEF, one on June 4 and another on June 7.

Key claims

Ozon's footprint and growth metrics

According to Boer, Ozon operates in Russia and eight neighboring countries: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan — the latter being the most recent addition, with operations launched just a few months ago. She reported that Ozon's infrastructure in these countries includes 140,000 square meters of warehouse space and over 2,700 branded pickup points.

The CEO cited significant growth in cross-border turnover: by the end of 2025, sales by sellers from neighboring countries had increased by 1.5 times. For Russian entrepreneurs, turnover to the countries where Ozon operates grew by more than 80% in 2025, with the number of orders rising 2.5-fold.

Boer emphasized that Ozon's infrastructure lowers market-entry barriers for Russian sellers, who no longer need to independently set up logistics and financial chains for each new market. "He does this through Ozon's infrastructure," she said.

Logistics expansion beyond CIS

Chekushov told TASS that Russian marketplaces already have logistics centers in nearly all CIS countries. He said they are also expanding beyond the CIS: Russian logistics facilities are present in China, and one Russian digital platform announced plans to establish a logistics center in Ethiopia in May.

"We expect that the goods moving infrastructure combined with digital platforms will make it possible for us to increase the exports of Russian goods," the deputy minister said.

Perspectives

The statements reflect the official Russian government and business perspective, emphasizing the benefits of integration and infrastructure development. Chekushov's remarks point to a strategic goal of boosting Russian exports through digital platforms, with attention to expanding into non-CIS markets like China and Ethiopia.

No alternative viewpoints were included in the reports. The claims about Ozon's operational figures and infrastructure were made by the company's executive and have not been independently verified by other sources.

Temporal context

The data on turnover and orders refers to the full year 2025, which has ended. The reports were published during the June 2025 SPIEF forum, as these developments were being announced.