Demand for shipping containers has risen in Russia due to rising housing costs

Demand for shipping containers as an alternative to summer cottages and permanent homes in Russia has risen by 60% over the past two years. 

This is reported by The Moscow Times.

According to experts, the reason is a sharp spike in prices for building materials and finished properties: the cost of prefabricated housing has increased by 300,000–500,000 rubles in just the last six months. Containers attract buyers with the possibility of registering them as non-permanent structures, which allows them to avoid obtaining building permits and complex approvals.

Low cost remains a key factor in the popularity of such housing amid a 100% increase in the price of bricks since 2020. A basic container costs about 140,000 rubles, while a version with interior finishing ranges from 900,000 to 1.5 million rubles, which is significantly cheaper than market offers for frame houses. Due to economic conditions, developers are forced to switch en masse to cheaper materials and non-traditional housing formats.

After three years of unexpected economic growth, Russia is facing a sudden slowdown—war expenses, inflation, and falling oil prices have begun to weigh on an economy that until recently seemed resilient to sanctions.

Consumer lending in Russia has fallen to a six-year low.