Global retail marketplace AliExpress is offering Russian buyers the chance to have Chinese goods delivered to their doors in just a few days, instead of the usual 30 to 45. This is due to a warehouse set up in Russia in July 2015 that stores goods sold online through the AliExpress Mall. 

According to new data, more than 23 million Russians visited AliExpress.com in March, making it the leading online shopping platform in the country. 

However, goods ordered from China can take up to 45 days to clear customs and cross the border into Russia, which has scared away a number of potential customers. To improve delivery, AliExpress has set up a Mall section on its website, which sells Chinese goods stored at a warehouse in Moscow, ready to be dispatched within hours. This new system has cut delivery times by weeks. 

“Our clients, Chinese product makers, Chinese vendors who specialize in selling products from China, can move their products to our warehouse in Moscow. With that they can improve the quality of their customer service,” said Vasily Shestakov, a representative from Chinese logistics company City Ruston. 

The warehouse is a joint venture between Ruston and the Russian property company Greenwood. They hope the next day delivery initiative could give AliExpress an advantage at a time when online sales in Russia are booming and competition is fierce between Chinese companies and western players such as Amazon, Next and Yoox. Last year, online sales in Russia exceeded 26 billion US dollars.

AliExpress says its new next-day delivery service will be available in Russia's 20 large cities, and will include items such as mobile phones, laptops and headphones. Other cities can expect a delivery time of up to three days.