Russia could double polymer production by 2030
polymer production capacity could double by 2030, according to government estimates, exceeding 15 million tonnes. The largest new project in the country will be SIBUR’s Amur Gas Chemical Complex, with a production capacity of 2.7 million tonnes of polyethylene and polypropylene per year. Setto launch in 2027, the complex is well positioned to tap into thegrowing potential offered by Asian markets.
Global Trend
The commissioning of large polymer production facilities reflects a global trend. According to Argus, the global polymer market could reach 284 million tonnes by 2033, up from 200 million tonnes last year. New project launches are expected to surge over the next few years. By the end of 2028, global polymer production capacity is projected to increase by 105 million tonnes annually, pushing the industry capacity utilization rate below 80%.
This is indicative not of overproduction but rather market evolution. Larger, more efficient plants are coming online, driving down production costs, while smaller, outdated plants with capacities of around 0.5 million tonnes per year may close. Argus predicts that Western Europe and North-East Asia (Japan, South Korea) will be the most affected.
The Russian Energy Ministry’s analytical centre notes that new players from post-Soviet countries could enter the international polymer market. For instance, Kazakhstan’s KazMunayGas is building a plant with a capacity of 1.25 million tonnes of polyethylene per year in partnership with China’s Sinopec and Russia’s SIBUR, while
