Chinese cross-border e-commerce entrepreneur Andy Guo has just opened two warehouses covering a total of 5,000 square metres (53,820 sq ft) on the outskirts of Moscow.
He said the move was not about addressing logistical bottlenecks, but preparing his business for a potential geopolitical shift that could reshape his fastest-growing yet most uncertain overseas market if Russia and Ukraine reach a peace deal.
US President Donald Trump has continued to push for the end of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted some US proposals aimed at ending the war in Ukraine and was prepared to keep working to find a compromise.
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“Many Chinese exporters are now closely monitoring and debating whether a peace deal can be reached,” Guo said.
Also the founder of Waimaojia, a business platform on WeChat that has attracted thousands of exporters focused on the Russian market, he said the prospect of an end to the war brought both opportunities and uncertainties for many Chinese exporters.
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Many Chinese exporters expect the first wave of post-war demand in Russia to come from infrastructure, followed by a quick rebound in consumer spending once payment and delivery restrictions caused by sanctions are relaxed.