Closures Sweep Through Russia's Once-Bustling Retail Scene
In the first half of 2025, the Russian book trade market underwent significant changes, with online platforms capturing nearly two-thirds of the entire market. This shift was evident from January to August, as traditional sales points outside the capital region experienced a decline in footfall and sales, with some regions seeing a drop of 10-20%.
The rise in online sales is not a solitary trend. Online sales increased by 3%, accounting for around 65% of the entire book market. One of the notable players in this digital shift is "Stroki" (part of the MTS ecosystem), which grew by 13% in the digital books segment.
The increase in online sales is not solely due to consumer preference. The rise in production costs for regular printed books, including raw materials (paper), printing services, logistics, and transportation, has contributed to increased prices. As a result, the average price increase in stores was 12.3%, primarily due to a 16.1% increase in supplier release prices.
Despite the 6% decrease in sales in offline stores, prices in traditional bookstores increased by approximately 10%. However, some retail networks, such as "Chitai-gorod - Bukvoed", have reported a 10.6% increase in the average check.
Experts from MTS Bank have observed an increase in demand for digital books. This trend is further supported by the fact that in 2025, the share of digital book sales rose from 27% to 33%. The "Litres" platform, for instance, increased its revenue by 12% across all sales models.
However, the landscape of the Russian book market in 2025 does not reveal any specific companies or platforms with notable successes. The total turnover of book retail for the first half of 2025 grew by only 1.1% compared to the same period in 2024.
The challenges faced by traditional sales points are further compounded by the frequent changes in regulatory oversight in the industry, adding complexities and financial burdens for all market participants. Furthermore, many marketplaces do not prioritize the promotion of reading culture and support for the reading community.
The General Director of "Subscription Editions" store notes a significant shift of readers towards marketplaces. This shift, combined with the increasing demand for digital books and the financial burdens caused by regulatory changes and rising production costs, paints a complex picture of the Russian book trade market in 2025. Over 200 physical stores were liquidated last year due to deteriorating economic indicators in offline stores.
President of the Association of Book Distributors, Svetlana Zorina, attributes the average price increase in stores to the 16.1% increase in supplier release prices. As the market continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these trends and challenges will shape the future of the Russian book trade.
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