Demand for Russian-language literature in Europe has seen a significant increase over the past year, with sales surging by 30%. The European market now accounts for 20% of the total export volume for Russian books. This notable growth is primarily attributed to a more active Russian-speaking diaspora and the expansion of partnership networks across the continent.
The publishing group “Eksmo-AST” confirmed this trend, reporting that their sales in European countries alone grew by 30% within a year, with this region now contributing 20% to the group`s overall international sales figures.
While Kazakhstan remains the leading importer for “Eksmo-AST,” sales in Belarus have shown a decline. Interestingly, the group has also expanded its reach this year by launching sales operations in South Korea.
Ekaterina Kozhanova, Director of Strategic Communications at “Eksmo-AST” publishing group, elaborated on the factors contributing to this heightened interest in Russian-language books:
Ekaterina Kozhanova Director of Strategic Communications, Eksmo-AST Publishing Group
“Indeed, the export of Russian-language books from `Eksmo` has increased by 5%. In monetary terms, Kazakhstan, Europe, Belarus, the USA, and Moldova are the leading markets. The sale of books abroad is naturally linked to our fellow citizens residing there who wish to purchase physical books in Russian. Their preferences typically align with the bestsellers popular in Russia. Countries like Kyrgyzstan and Belarus, for instance, have seen a decrease in sales volumes. This trend is due to the growth of online marketplaces such as Ozon and Wildberries, where customers order directly. Conversely, we are boosting sales in regions with established local retail and marketplaces. The current growth is genuinely high, primarily driven by the engagement of new wholesale and retail partners interested in Russian-language literature. We consistently expand our partner network each year.”
The “Alpina” publishing house also confirmed the increase in Russian-language book sales abroad. They attribute this partly to the wave of emigration in 2022-2023. However, Pavel Podkosov, editor-in-chief of “Alpina Non-Fiction,” notes that by 2025, the company`s international sales have seen a slight decrease compared to their peak.
Pavel Podkosov provided further insight into the market dynamics:
Pavel Podkosov Editor-in-Chief, Alpina Non-Fiction Publishing House
“From 2022 to 2024, not only Europe but all international markets experienced substantial growth. Sales increased everywhere – in Europe, the United States, Britain, the CIS, Georgia, and Armenia. Everything was very positive. However, looking at the current situation and comparing the first nine months of 2025 to the same period in 2024, sales in Kazakhstan are slightly down by about 10%. But this decline follows a very high baseline. Europe, the US, and Britain show modest growth, approximately 5-7% when comparing the first nine months of 2025 to 2024. I believe that our book buyers abroad primarily consist of two groups. Firstly, recent emigrants who don`t purchase many physical books, likely due to being in transition. They tend to prefer digital and audio products. The second group comprises long-term Russian speakers who have resided abroad for an extended period. They form a loyal core, consistently buying books, though their numbers are not exceedingly large.”
An “Alpina” representative also mentioned that the publishing house has launched sales in the United Arab Emirates, where Russian-language books are selling exceptionally well, indicating a promising new market.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth