Russia holds 15,500 kilotonnes of ethylene production capacity. Its chemical production volume contracted by 3.8% in 2022, even as chemicals accounted for 8.2% of national export value. This analysis details the sector's scale, costs, and sustainability metrics.
Key Takeaways
- 15,500 kt of ethylene production capacity in 2023 for Russia (capacity measure reported as part of global ethylene capacities by country)
- 1.2% share of global chemical sales for Russia (2022), reflecting Russia’s role in the global chemicals market
- 3.8% decline in Russian chemical production volume (2022 vs 2021), showing contraction during sanctions period
- Russia spent $6.6B importing chemical products in 2022, indicating remaining dependency in certain segments
- CO2 emissions intensity of Russia’s chemical manufacturing was 0.73 tCO2 per tonne of output in 2022 (LCA/industrial reporting estimate)
- Russia ranked in the top 10 globally for chemicals plastic waste generation in 2022, totaling 6.5 million tonnes (waste generation estimate)
- Russia produced 11.5 million tonnes of ammonia in 2023, an indicator of nitrogen fertilizer feedstock capacity utilization
- Russia’s crude oil production averaged 10.8 million barrels per day in 2023, supporting petrochemical feedstock availability
- Russia generated 5.5% of global natural gas production in 2023, providing energy and feedstock for chemicals
- Russia’s chemical industry workforce was about 1.0 million employees in 2023 (sector employment estimate), indicating labor scale
- Russia invested $1.3B in chemical industry capex in 2023 (announced/planned), reflecting reinvestment levels
- 7.4% of Russian enterprises in chemical manufacturing implemented industrial automation technologies in 2023 (survey-based adoption share)
- Russia’s industrial electricity price for chemical production averaged $0.08/kWh in 2023 (price benchmark), influencing operating margins
- Russia’s benzene export price averaged $1,000/tonne in 2023 (price index), indicating profitability of aromatics chain
- Russia’s propylene price averaged $900/tonne in 2023 (price index), impacting PP and polymer economics
Russia’s chemical output contracted amid sanctions but remains a major player, with key pricing and trade headwinds.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size4 stats
01
15,500 kt of ethylene production capacity in 2023 for Russia (capacity measure reported as part of global ethylene capacities by country)
02
1.2% share of global chemical sales for Russia (2022), reflecting Russia’s role in the global chemicals market
03
3.8% decline in Russian chemical production volume (2022 vs 2021), showing contraction during sanctions period
04
8.2% of Russia’s exports by value were chemicals and plastics products in 2022, indicating export relevance
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
In the Market Size view, Russia’s chemicals sector is showing contraction with a 3.8% decline in production volume in 2022 versus 2021, even as it still accounts for 1.2% of global chemical sales and sends 8.2% of its exports by value in chemicals and plastics, suggesting a smaller domestic footprint alongside enduring export importance.
02 · Category
Sustainability & Trade6 stats
01
Russia spent $6.6B importing chemical products in 2022, indicating remaining dependency in certain segments
02
CO2 emissions intensity of Russia’s chemical manufacturing was 0.73 tCO2 per tonne of output in 2022 (LCA/industrial reporting estimate)
03
Russia ranked in the top 10 globally for chemicals plastic waste generation in 2022, totaling 6.5 million tonnes (waste generation estimate)
04
Russia’s waste plastic recycling rate was 8% in 2022 (latest available), indicating circularity constraints for polymers
05
Russia’s share of global ammonia trade was 3.1% in 2023 (market share estimate), indicating export competitiveness
06
Russian chemical firms faced an average 14% increase in logistics costs in 2022 (reported cost pressure), affecting trade competitiveness
Interpretation
Sustainability & Trade Interpretation
Even as Russia’s chemicals trade shows competitiveness with a 3.1% share of global ammonia in 2023, sustainability gaps remain clear with 6.6B in chemical imports in 2022 and high environmental pressure including 0.73 tCO2 per tonne output plus only an 8% plastic recycling rate.
03 · Category
Production & Feedstocks4 stats
01
Russia produced 11.5 million tonnes of ammonia in 2023, an indicator of nitrogen fertilizer feedstock capacity utilization
02
Russia’s crude oil production averaged 10.8 million barrels per day in 2023, supporting petrochemical feedstock availability
03
Russia generated 5.5% of global natural gas production in 2023, providing energy and feedstock for chemicals
04
Russia’s polyethylene (PE) capacity additions slowed with a net change of -1% in 2023 vs 2022, reflecting constrained investment
Interpretation
Production & Feedstocks Interpretation
In 2023, Russia’s Production and Feedstocks outlook was shaped by strong chemical feedstock availability with 11.5 million tonnes of ammonia and 10.8 million barrels per day of crude oil, while natural gas supplied 5.5% of global output, yet polyethylene capacity additions dipped by 1% versus 2022, signaling some investment restraint despite ample feedstocks.
More related reading
04 · Category
Technology & Investment3 stats
01
Russia’s chemical industry workforce was about 1.0 million employees in 2023 (sector employment estimate), indicating labor scale
02
Russia invested $1.3B in chemical industry capex in 2023 (announced/planned), reflecting reinvestment levels
03
7.4% of Russian enterprises in chemical manufacturing implemented industrial automation technologies in 2023 (survey-based adoption share)
Interpretation
Technology & Investment Interpretation
In 2023, Russia’s chemical industry showed a clear Technology and Investment push with 1.0 million employees and $1.3B in capex while 7.4% of chemical manufacturers adopted industrial automation technologies.
05 · Category
Cost Analysis4 stats
01
Russia’s industrial electricity price for chemical production averaged $0.08/kWh in 2023 (price benchmark), influencing operating margins
02
Russia’s benzene export price averaged $1,000/tonne in 2023 (price index), indicating profitability of aromatics chain
03
Russia’s propylene price averaged $900/tonne in 2023 (price index), impacting PP and polymer economics
04
Russia’s producer prices for chemicals increased 6% in 2023 vs 2022 (inflation measure), impacting pass-through to customers
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In Russia’s chemical cost landscape, lower electricity at $0.08 per kWh in 2023 helped support margins while producer prices rose 6% versus 2022, tightening cost pressure that would have to be managed through pricing and supply decisions.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marcus Engström. (2026, February 13). Russia Chemical Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/russia-chemical-industry-statistics
MLA
Marcus Engström. "Russia Chemical Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/russia-chemical-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Engström. 2026. "Russia Chemical Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/russia-chemical-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
21 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+5 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)