DEMAND FOR POLYMERS IS GROWING
Construction, Automotive industry, Electrical engineering, as well as Consumer goods field made of plastics set the tone for the consumption of polymers, which means that the purchase of equipment and the development of technologies depend on them. The largest annual platform for demonstrating new products and achievements is the RUPLASTICA exhibition, which will be held from January 21 to 24, 2025 at the Expocentre Fairgrounds.
One of the significant sectors of the economy today - Construction - shows steady growth: according to Rosstat, housing commissioning in Russia in the first half of the year increased by 3.4% compared to the same period in 2023 and reached 62.1 mlns sq. m. The production of products used in construction also shows growth: the volume of plastic pipes, hoses and fittings increased by 2.3% with a total output of 656 thds tonnes, and plastic materials for floor, wall and ceiling coverings increased by 5.3% to 179 mln sq. m. At the same time, pipes are used in urban infrastructure projects, and finishing materials are used in repairs and in individual housing construction, the commissioning of which is growing by 23% per year. Polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, PVC – the offer of RUPLASTICA participants for this segment can be found in the online catalog by the keyword "thermoplastics".
Traditionally considered a powerful segment of plastic consumption, the automotive industry is being reborn after international manufacturers left local plants. According to Rosstat, 391 thds passenger cars were produced in the country in the first half of the year, which is 1.5 times more than in 2023 for the same period. The numbers are small, but the trend is important. In addition, the Auto industry includes trucks and buses, which were also produced in larger quantities. The industry's needs for raw materials cover a range of polymers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonates, engineering plastics, including ABS. Most of them are provided by Russian manufacturers, about 25% are imported, and among the exhibitors of RUPLASTICA you can find reliable manufacturers and distributors of polymers.
Household appliances are “responsible” for the consumption of polystyrene, ABS plastic, polypropylene, polyurethane foam, compounds, and this area is also actively recovering. Rosstat reports that in the first half of the year, 1.9 mln refrigerators and freezers were produced in the country, increasing the volumes of 2023 by 14.5%; 1.6 mlns washing machines came off the assembly lines - this is 10% more than last year's volume. High growth rates allow us to count on providing orders to suppliers of polymers, including stimulating Russian developers to create new domestic materials with special properties.
Consumer goods made of plastics cover a huge range of products that are used in everyday life. Their popularity is clearly visible from the offer of marketplaces - these are tableware, personal care items, garden goods and sports equipment. To develop this area, a special project on press molds was created at the exhibition, which accumulates offers in the field of molding tools. In 2023, exhibitors provided local manufacturers with the opportunity to order press molds without leaving the country, establishing business contacts directly at the exhibition.
