Bags and suitcases (Russian market)

Chronicle

2024: The production of suitcases and bags in Russia for the year decreased by 43% and amounted to 23.0 million units

The production of suitcases and bags in Russia in 2024 amounted to 23.0 million units, a decrease of 43.1% compared to 2023. This is evidenced by the data of the analytical company Alto Consulting Group, released in October 2025.

The statistics cover products made of genuine leather, its combinations, sheets of plastic, textile materials, cardboard and vulcanized fibers. The category also included travel kits for personal care, sewing and grooming clothes or shoes.

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Фото: Freepik

The Central Federal District became a key region at the end of 2024, providing 36.4% of the total output. The concentration is explained by the presence of large production capacities, logistics advantages and high consumption density.

Both large factories with a long history and modern enterprises producing products for the Russian and international markets are located here. The Southern, Volga and Siberian federal districts show more modest results.

The share of the Central District is gradually decreasing due to an increase in output in other entities. Government programs to support small and medium-sized businesses contribute to the development of local industries in the regions.

Alto Consulting Group analysts identified the main factors that led to the reduction in production:

• Transformation of consumer demand. With prices rising and incomes falling, shoppers are more likely to opt for cheaper items or delay purchases of leather goods.
• Import competition pressure. Despite the development of local production, a significant market share is occupied by imported products offering a wide price range.
• Increase in cost. The rise in price of leather, fittings, textiles and plastic parts affects the final prices of the product, reducing its availability to the mass buyer.
• Seasonal nature of demand. Sales peaks occur during the holiday season and periods of active travel, which forms an uneven utilization of production capacity.
• 5Changing consumer preferences. The popularity of multifunctional bags and compact suitcases is changing the structure of demand, requiring manufacturers to adapt the range.^[1]

2023: Sales of bags and suitcases in Russia for the year increased by 18%, to 278.5 million units

In 2023, about 278.5 million bags and suitcases were sold in Russia against 235.7 million a year earlier. Thus, growth was recorded at the level of 18%. This is stated in the BusinesStat study, the results of which were published at the end of September 2024.

The review takes into account products such as traditional suitcases, travel chests, bags and suitcases for cosmetics or personal care kits, business paper cases, briefcases, cases, travel bags, backpacks, sports bags, thermos bags as well as shopping bags.

In 2019, sales of these products in the Russian Federation were estimated at 170.9 million units. In 2020, a drop of 9.5% followed - to 154.7 million units. This is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, due to which the number of people's trips has sharply decreased, and therefore the need for bags and suitcases for transporting things has also decreased. But already in 2021 there was a sharp increase: sales jumped by 33.7% - to 206.8 million units. In 2022, an increase of another 14% was noted.

The authors of the study name several factors that provide significant positive dynamics. In particular, against the background of easing quarantine restrictions, the number of tourist trips began to increase: this stimulated the demand for suitcases and travel bags, as well as beach bags and small belt and cross-body bags that are convenient to carry when traveling.

In addition, as noted in the report, against the background of the formed geopolitical situation, there is a significant migration outflow of citizens. According to data, in Rosstat 2022, about 668.4 thousand Russians left the country, which exceeded the value of the previous year by 2.8 times. In this regard, the demand for backpacks, spacious sports bags and suitcases remained increased. At the same time, after the start of the special operation, sales of tactical and tourist backpacks increased significantly.^[2]

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