PrimaMedia, March 23

Russian Court Orders Bastion LLC to Pay $338K Over Unpaid Car Recycling Fees

The Arbitration Court of Primorsky Krai has ruled in favor of the Vladivostok Customs Office, ordering Bastion LLC to pay a recycling fee into the federal budget, the court's press service reported.

"The Arbitration Court of Primorsky Krai deemed the claims justified and granted them in full, ordering the payment of a recycling fee totaling 18,595,200 rubles ($204,000) and late payment penalties of 12,171,838 rubles ($134,000)," the statement reads.

According to case materials, the company imported 47 used passenger cars into Russia and placed them under the "customs warehouse" procedure. The vehicles were stored at a warehouse operated by TS Terminal LLC under an agreement involving SpecAvtoVlad LLC, which later purchased the cars.

During an inspection, customs authorities determined that the vehicles did not qualify for exemptions under recycling fee regulations. Bastion LLC received a payment demand but ignored it, prompting the customs office to file a lawsuit.

The court upheld the fee calculation as correct and ordered a recalculation of the penalties, which were adjusted to 12,171,838 rubles. Ultimately, the claims were fully satisfied.

As a reminder, starting April 1, 2026, the mechanism for calculating recycling fees on vehicles imported by private individuals from Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries into Russia will be revised—inevitably increasing costs. This means importing used right-hand-drive Toyota Harriers or new Chinese cars via Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, or Belarus will become far less profitable.