Recycling fee rates in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries are rapidly approaching and may soon exceed the actual cost of the vehicles themselves. This concern was articulated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Friday, May 29th, during the EAEU summit held in Astana.
“Everyone has closed themselves off so much that not even a mouse can get through. The recycling fee rates will soon surpass the cost of the cars themselves. I’m talking about our union! Why are we doing this? What kind of union can we talk about?” stated the head of state.
The Belarusian leader also called for improvements in the union’s industrial policy, which he described as “clearly faltering,” as reported by BelTA.
Previous media reports indicated that by 2026, the cost of basic auto parts in Russia was projected to increase by an average of 20 to 40 percent. Contributing factors include the increased complexity of logistics due to parallel imports, rising taxes, and stricter customs inspections. The most significant price hikes were observed for essential components like brake pads, oil filters, and suspension shock absorbers.
Furthermore, on March 5th, information emerged suggesting that as of April 1st, prices for German car brands such as BMW and Mercedes could experience a sharp increase of 25–40 percent due to new recycling fee regulations and additional charges.
