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Blacklist of the Ministry of Industry and Trade: how the computer and laptop market in Russia will change starting from May 27, 2026.

If you follow the news from the world of technology, you've probably already seen the headlines: "The Ministry of Industry and Trade prohibits the import of computers from Acer, Asus, HP and other brands." It sounds dramatic, but let's get right to the point — this is not a "ban on imports in general," but the closure of the "gray" channel through which a huge part of the market has been operating in recent years. We are figuring out what will really change from May 27, 2026 and what ordinary customers and businesses should prepare for.

What exactly happened. From May 27, 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia excludes from the list of parallel imports computers, laptops, servers, drives (including SSD, HDD and RAM) and components under the following brands: Acer, Asus, HP, HPE, Dell, Fujitsu, IBM, Inspur, Cisco, xFusion, Samsung, Intel, ADATA, Kingston, SanDisk, Toshiba, Transcend, Hynix, Apacer and others.

The decision was fixed by Order No. 4769 dated September 26, 2025. Specific HS codes are adjusted there (in particular — 8471 49 000 0 and 8471,70). In simple words: for these items, it is no longer possible to legally import products into Russia without the direct permission of the copyright holder through third countries.

Parallel imports as a mechanism have been extended until the end of 2026, but these exceptions are a serious blow to the "gray" channels.

What is parallel import and why is it "canceled" for these brands. Parallel import is a legal scheme that allowed the import of original equipment after 2022 without the consent of the Western manufacturer. For example, an importer bought an HP laptop in Kazakhstan or the UAE and imported it to Russia — and it was legal even without a letter from HP.

It won't work that way now. From May 27, for equipment from the list, you will need to obtain direct permission from the factory (Acer, Intel, HP, etc.). Without this document, customs simply will not let the cargo through.

It is important to understand:

- There is a caveat for Acer, Asus, Samsung and other laptops. According to the basic code that describes portable computers, the restrictions only affected HP and Fujitsu. The remaining brands continue official deliveries through their distributors.

- For drives (SSD, HDD, RAM) and accessories — there is a full list here. Kingston, Samsung, Intel, ADATA, Hynix, and others are all moving away from parallel imports.

By the way, the list also includes non-computer equipment: Braun electric shavers, Oral-B oral care, as well as printing equipment and Ricoh ink.

What will happen to the prices and assortment:

Scenario No. 1 is for mass—market laptops from Acer, Asus, etc. There is likely to be no significant shortage or sharp price spike. These companies already have direct contracts with Russian distributors, and supplies will continue to flow legally.

Scenario #2 is for HP, Dell, and all "gray" imports. And that's where the problems start. These brands officially left Russia, and the bulk of their equipment was imported through parallel imports. This channel is now being closed. Means:

- shortage of individual models (especially server hardware, rare laptops and premium desktops);

- higher prices — fewer suppliers, higher logistical risks, higher margins;

- companies with vendor-specific infrastructure will be particularly affected.

As for the components — SSD, RAM, hard drives from Samsung, Kingston, Intel and others. Their market is also waiting for a rise in price. Mass-produced models will lose in price moderately, while rare and professional series may jump more.

Who will win and who will lose.

They win:

- Chinese manufacturers (for example, Inspur server solutions, which remained on the list, but in fact there are alternatives).

- Russian brands and OEM assembly.

- Companies that assemble PCs themselves from components inside the country.

They're losing:

- A small business for which the purchase of equipment will become more expensive.

- Gamers and enthusiasts — the choice of specific models will decrease.

- Companies whose infrastructure is tightly tied to HP, Dell or IBM.

- And, of course, ordinary customers who are used to choosing from a wide range.

What about workarounds? Will there be more "semi-gray" imports? Most likely, yes, but it will become more expensive, longer and riskier. Some schemes with individuals, small parties, tricky routes - all this is not going anywhere. But it will no longer be a legal mass channel that kept competition and prices in check.

How does an ordinary person feel about this news? Here's what you really need to know if you're not an importer or wholesaler, but just want to buy a laptop or assemble a PC.:

- The equipment will not disappear from the shelves completely.

- But prices will almost certainly rise — according to various estimates, for some categories up to 20-30% in the first months after May 27.

- The assortment will become poorer, especially in the middle and premium segment, especially for brands that have officially left (HP, Dell).

- Acer, Asus, and Samsung laptops will continue to be officially imported — don't expect a shortage.

- But separate SSDs, RAM, powerful servers and rare models — there will be difficulties here.

Starting from May 27, 2026, the computer hardware market in Russia will not collapse, but it will become noticeably more expensive, poorer in choice, and will shift towards alternative and Russian brands.

I advise you not to panic and not to buy everything before May 27, but if you had planned a major upgrade or purchase of equipment from specific brands from the "blacklist", you might want to hurry up a little.

Share in the comments: are you using the technology of bygone brands or have you already switched to alternatives?

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