At the same time government procurement, which is the mainstay of imported brands, has been weak.

ECONOMIST: Russian computers

But the imported brands get away with discounts roughly half of those that Detroit has to offer.

ECONOMIST: Detroit's nine lives

Dr Tsanangurayi Tongesayi of Monmouth University in New Jersey, US, and his team have tested a number of imported brands of rice bought from local shops.

BBC: US rice imports 'contain harmful levels of lead'

Premium brands and imported beers may flourish too as people grow more affluent.

ECONOMIST: SABMiller buys South America's second-biggest brewer

Domestic producers have found it hard to compete, first with imported second-hand cars and more recently with new imports and foreign brands made in Russia.

ECONOMIST: Cars in Russia