Shipping goods from Japan to Russia
Japanese shipments to Russia travel mainly by sea from Yokohama, Nagoya and Toyama to Vladivostok, followed by a rail or road leg across Russia, while air freight leaves from Tokyo and Osaka. The short crossing to the Russian Far East makes Japan a quick lane, but the total time is decided by the inland leg to your customer’s city rather than by the voyage. To Moscow, sea freight takes 20–30 days and air 3–5 days.
We act for Japanese manufacturers, distributors and trading houses selling to buyers in Russia and the CIS. We collect from your site in Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama or Nagoya, route the goods by sea via Vladivostok or by air via Beijing or Dubai, and clear them through Russian customs for your customer. Shipments start at 50 kg, with no weight limit for air, and every deal is checked for export control and sanctions before we confirm it.
How we ship from Japan to Russia
Air freight
From any country in 2–8 days door to door via Istanbul or Dubai, charged by volumetric weight (1 m³ = 167 kg), no weight limit. Minimum service fee €200.
Transit times to Moscow
| Mode | Door to door |
|---|---|
| Sea (via port) | 20–30 days |
| Air | 2–8 days |
What suppliers ship from Japan to Russia
Typical Japanese consignments are spare parts for machine tools and industrial equipment, electronic components, medical equipment, automotive parts and tools, together with consumer electronics, professional equipment, cosmetics and speciality foods such as matcha. Whether an item can be shipped is always decided by export-control screening first. Japanese shippers pack to an exemplary standard, which makes sea transport straightforward even for precision goods.
Where we collect from Japan
Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Nagoya and any other address.
Export formalities
The Japanese export declaration is lodged at the port or airport of dispatch — we arrange it on your behalf or coordinate with your own broker. Japan’s export controls on industrial equipment and electronics are broader than the EU’s, so we check each item against the Japanese control lists before the contract is signed, not at the port. On the Russian side we clear the goods for your buyer, including the certification required for automotive parts and equipment.
How it works for you as a supplier
- 1Quote within 2 hours
Send the invoice or packing list — we check the HS codes against EU sanctions lists and quote transport, export formalities and customs clearance in Russia. - 2Collection from your premises
We pick up the goods from your warehouse or factory and take them to our consolidation warehouse or load a dedicated truck. - 3Export declaration
We lodge the export declaration on your behalf and send you the MRN and the proof of exit — the basis for zero-rating VAT. - 4Delivery to your customer
Border crossing, customs clearance in Russia and delivery to your buyer’s warehouse; tracking at every stage.
Practical tips
- Check each item against Japan’s export-control lists before signing the contract — their scope is wider than in the EU.
- For automotive parts and machinery, confirm Russian certification early; for vehicles, the Russian recycling fee is the cost most often forgotten.
- Transit time depends mostly on the inland leg from Vladivostok, so give the final delivery city when you ask for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from Japan to Russia take?
Sea freight to Vladivostok and on to Moscow takes 20–30 days; air freight from Tokyo, Osaka or Nagoya takes 3–5 days. For destinations other than Moscow, the inland leg from the Far East determines the final time, which we confirm in the quote.
How can my Russian customer pay me?
If direct transfers are a problem, your customer can settle through our supplier-payment service: the buyer pays an agent in Russia under an agency agreement, and a partner company resident in the EU pays your invoice by SWIFT. The commission is agreed with the buyer beforehand; payments for sanctioned goods are not made.
Which documents are needed for export from Japan?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, prices and Incoterms, a packing list and, for technical goods, a description sufficient for export-control classification. The Japanese export declaration is lodged at the point of dispatch by us or by your broker; certificates for the Russian market are arranged with your buyer.
How do you handle sanctions and export control?
We accept only goods that are not subject to EU, UK, Swiss or US sanctions and that pass Japanese export control. The HS code, the end use and every party are screened before we confirm the shipment, and restricted or dual-use items are declined.