German companies find it difficult to replace imports from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Only 13.8 percent of industrial companies with delivery problems from these countries could completely exchange their sources of supply in the short term, according to a survey published by the Ifo Institute on Tuesday.
For 43.4 percent, this is only partially possible.
A further 16.3 percent replied that other sources of supply were not economically viable.
13.8 percent even declared that this was not possible at all.
"Changing sources of supply gives many companies a headache," said Ifo researcher Klaus Wohlrabe on the survey results.
"Supply chains and production processes that have been tried and tested for years often cannot be reorganized at short notice."
In wholesale, only 7.4 percent said it was entirely possible to find new import sources in the short term, according to the Ifo.
42.0 percent assume that this is only partially possible.
This makes no economic sense for 16.0 percent, and not at all possible for 17.3 percent.
Many companies are also indirectly affected because their own suppliers import from Russia.
"There is also often uncertainty as to whether and to what extent companies may be affected by the sanctions," said Wohlrabe.
Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on February 24th.
Western states and their partner countries have responded with sanctions, including against Belarus, which is an ally of Russia.
A tightening is currently being discussed by the EU states.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck sees German companies in a kind of "staccato" phase, burdened by the high energy prices in the course of the war.
There was a lack of skilled workers and the supply chains no longer functioned properly.
"That means it no longer runs smoothly, but there are always raw materials, then it's produced, then it's canceled," said the Green politician on Monday.