MOSCOW, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Sales of paper books in Russia are expected to reach 107 billion to 110 billion rubles (some 1.3 billion U.S. dollars) this year, representing a 10 to 12 percent year-on-year increase, the Russian Book Union said Tuesday.

"The modern Russian book market in 2025 is showing growth in monetary terms, despite the challenges facing traditional retail and shifts in consumer habits," said Sergei Stepashin, president of the union.

Although print circulation may drop by 3 percent to 226 million copies, digital formats, including e-books and audiobooks, continue to grow in popularity, accounting for almost a quarter of the market, he said.

Stepashin also noted that 286 bookstores have closed in Russia over the past two years, shrinking the country's bookstore infrastructure by 11.3 percent.

As of November 2025, the number of bookstores in Russia stood at 2,247, he added. ■