In response to sanctions imposed by the United States following Ukraine's invasion, HP has terminated its operations in Russia. The company recently shut down its Russian website, which previously served as a hub for drivers and customer support in the Russian language. Furthermore, HP removed Russia from its list of supported countries and redirected its website to Kazakhstan, where Russian is commonly spoken. Although HP's Kazakhstan page allows users to download drivers, it lacks online support services.
In addition to exiting Russia, HP has also ceased operations in Belarus, redirecting its website for Belarusian users to the Kazakhstan page. This move follows HP Enterprise's decision to halt operations in both Russia and Belarus in 2022. The combined sales in Russia and Belarus accounted for approximately $1 billion for HP.
While Microsoft notified its users before withdrawing from Russia, HP did not provide such notifications. However, HP Inc.'s decision to withdraw from Russia and Belarus was initiated in March 2022, leading to the cessation of new product exports.
HP's withdrawal has created opportunities for other companies to gain market share in Russia. Pantum, a Chinese printer company, now dominates 53% of Russia's printer market, up from 16% before 2022. Epson, another printer manufacturer, has also experienced growth in Russia, although it suspended exports to Russia and Belarus in 2022.
Despite U.S. sanctions, Russia and China have sought alternatives for hardware and software. While some transitions to locally made options face challenges, both countries are developing solutions. The withdrawal of certain companies from the Russian market may pave the way for domestic manufacturers to thrive, as Russia and China work to navigate the impact of sanctions and secure alternatives.
0 comments:
Post a Comment