IKEA Ends Online Sales For Buyers And Corporate Clients In Russia

JAKARTA - Swedish furniture giant IKEA has closed online sales in Russia to buyers and corporate clients, an announcement on its website reads.

"We completed the online sale of IKEA goods for our buyers and corporate clients. Baskets, purchase lists and personal accounts cannot be accessed on the website," the company said, citing TASS on August 16.

All orders made before the end of online sales will be processed, issued or shipped in August and September, the company said.

Previously, IKEA held a warehouse for all of its products through an online service, before actually leaving the country.

"Starting July 5 for a few weeks, you can buy IKEA goods only on ikea.ru. Items will be sold while supplies last," IKEA said on its Russian website, last month.

Last June, IKEA said it would sell factories, close offices and reduce its 15.000 workforce in the country, as it did not expect to resume sales for the foreseeable future.

Its owner, Ingka Group, said in June it was open to returning to Russia one day, but that was not the case now. However, IKEA said it would continue to pay its nearly 15.000 staff in Russia until the end of August.

The move comes after IKEA temporarily closed stores and halted procurement in Russia, joining a mass corporate exodus, as Western companies rush to comply with Western sanctions and amid Kremlin threats to seize foreign assets.