Experts discussed the competitive opportunities of the Russian paints and coatings industry

An intensive programme of supporting events of the Interlakokraska 2021 international exhibition continues its work at EXPOCENTRE Fairgrounds. Today professionals and experts met at the Panel on Competitiveness of Russian Made Paints and Coatings in the Domestic and Foreign Markets. 

The event is organised by NIITEKHIM OAO and EXPOCENTRE AO, supported by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, Russian Ministry of Economic Development, Russian Chemists Union, Russian Export Center, Industry Development Fund, Centrlack Association and Quality Paint Association. 

The panel moderator Galina Zhigareva, Head of the Chemicals and Gas Products Market and Development Department at NIITEKHIM OAO, opened the event with a presentation on the state of the paint and varnish market. The speaker told about the dynamics of coatings and paints development over the last three years, elaborated on the issues of investments in production and export dynamics. According to Galina Zhigareva, the rate of development of paints and coatings exports in 2020 exceeded the level of 2019, and the most successful in this regard were paints for glass and ceramics production and assembly foam. Imports, on the other hand, had a declining trend. Galina Zhigareva concluded: "The most important thing in our industry is to establish consumer relations." 

The event was continued by Sergey Fedotov, President of the Quality Paint Association. In his speech he analysed the competitive situation in North America and India and looked at competition in Russia. "The situation in Russia is specific. The state plays a big role in the industry," stressed the speaker. 

Nikita Vygolov, Head of the Foreign Economic Integration of the Chemical Industry at NIITEKHIM OAO, spoke in his presentation about enterprises’ activities on improvement of import substitution. He listed the leading investment projects in the paints and coatings industry included in the import substitution plan until 2025. 

"The most acute issue is the raw materials", Gennady Averyanov, Director of the Centrlack Association joined the discussion. "Nevertheless, today we can cover all sectors of product consumption with the capacities of our enterprises". The expert elaborated on the competitive opportunities of the Russian paint and varnish industry to substitute imports and exports. 

During the panel, Valery Abramov, General Director of Russian Paints OAO, Victor Ivanov, President of the Russian Chemists Union, Sergey Lagutin, expert of the Industry Policy Department at the Industry Development Fund, Natalia Yakovleva, Director for Export Support in the Chemical Industry of the REC and others discussed the issues of competitiveness of the domestic market of paints and coatings and measures for SME support. 

Press Service, EXPOCENTRE AO