Stores estimated the volume of stocks of Apple and Samsung equipment

As a representative of Citilink told RBC, the average stock of equipment from brands that have limited the supply of their products to Russia, including Apple and Samsung products, will last for two to three months. A similar assessment is given by RBC's source in another large network.

After Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, the US authorities imposed sanctionsfor the export of high-tech products. According to them, American companies must obtain licenses to export electronics, computers, avionics, components for the aerospace industry and other products to Russia. Consumer "communications devices", including personal computers, modems, mobile phones and digital cameras, are not restricted and can be freely supplied for use by individuals other than the Russian authorities and people on the sanctions list. However, several large manufacturers announced the suspension of work in Russia. So, on March 1, the American Apple announced the suspension of product deliveries to Russia and the restriction of the company's services, including the Apple Pay payment system. Then the supply of smartphones, chips and consumer electronics was suspended by the South Korean Samsung and a number of other companies.

In large networks, there is already a shortage of iPhone 11 and 12, RBC correspondent was convinced. “We are trading the remaining goods from the warehouse, the iPhone 11 and 12 have been sold in Russia for several years, their stocks were small. In addition, after the increase in prices, the cost of these models turned out to be more affordable compared to new models. Now the iPhone 12 Pro Max costs about the same as the iPhone 13 Pro Max six months ago, ”an employee of one of the large networks told RBC.

Samsung ranked first in the Russian smartphone market in 2021 with a share of 32.1%, MTS estimated. Apple was third (15.2%), followed by the Chinese Xiaomi with sub-brand Poco (29.1%). According to one of RBC's interlocutors in the market, the suspension of Samsung deliveries to Russia will lead to the company losing its leadership position, it will be squeezed out by Chinese brands. But even with the supply of their products, there are now problems associated with both logistics and currency fluctuations, said another RBC source on the market. In mid-March, the Financial Times reported that shipments of Chinese smartphones to Russia, including Xiaomi, OPPO and Huawei, had been cut by at least half. According to the forecast of analysts from Citigroup, shipments of Xiaomi smartphones in 2022 may be reduced by 3 million. Based on MTS data, this is about 34% of the total volume of Xiaomi smartphones,