Chemical industry in Russia

Chemical industry in the world

Main article: Chemical industry in the world

2024: Russia finds "key" to complex inorganic molecules to create new types of sensors

In September 2024, scientists from St. Petersburg State University (St. Petersburg State University) and Tomsk Polytechnic University announced an important discovery related to the use of polyoxomethallates (POM) to create new types of sensors. The researchers applied the concept of "key-lock," developed back in the 19th century, to study complex inorganic molecules and found that iodonium cations can act as a "key" that triggers selective interaction with POM. This discovery opens up opportunities for the creation of materials with unique properties and the development of new catalysts, which will allow them to be used in various fields of science and technology.

According to Rambler, the work of scientists is based on the principle proposed in 1894 by the German scientist Emil Fisher, who noted that biological catalysts interact with molecules like a key and a lock. This mechanism is still actively used in chemistry, and scientists have now been able to adapt it to inorganic compounds. Studies have shown that polyoxomethallates -- anions of complex inorganic molecules -- exhibit a selective interaction with iodonium cations that can be described in key-lock terms. This selectivity, as noted by Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vadim Kukushkin, manifests itself only for one of the POM isomers, which is due to the formation of halogen bonds.

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According to Kukushkin, halogen bonds have recently attracted great attention of scientists due to their unique properties and capabilities for creating new materials. These connections provide structures with precise configuration and characteristics, which is especially important for the development of sensors capable of selectively recognizing certain ions in solution. In addition, such systems can become the basis for creating more efficient and selective catalysts, which opens up prospects for their use in industry.^[1]

2023

Metafrax Chemicals took a third of the Russian methanol market

Metafrax Chemicals published its 2023 report, according to which its share in the Russian methanol market in 2023 reached 31%, an increase from 25% compared to the previous period. The company has strengthened the position of the second largest manufacturer in the country.

By the end of 2023, there were nine methanol producers in Russia with a total capacity of more than 5 million tons per year. The market leader remains OKH Shchekinoazot with three units with a total capacity of 1.5 million tons. Metafrax Chemicals has a capacity of 1.15 million tons, followed by Togliattiazot (1 million tons) and Gazpromtrans (900 thousand tons).

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Lola Ogrel, project manager of the Fuel and Energy Complex Analytical Center, notes that the total utilization of production capacity in the industry decreased to 70% in 2023 against 81% in 2022 due to sanctions restrictions and a ban on supplies to Europe. The capacity surplus amounted to 1.65 million tons.

The total volume of methanol production in Russia in 2023 decreased by 13.7% to 3.88 million tons. Domestic consumption, excluding producers' own processing, amounted to 1.5 million tons, having decreased by 200 thousand tons from 2021.

Metafrax Chemicals is also the country's only producer of pentaerythritol and urotropine. In 2023, the company began production of melamine and urea, taking 35% and 6% of the market for these products, respectively.

Methanol exports from Russia in 2023 decreased by 29% to 1.5 million tons. Almost half of the export supplies (730 thousand tons) were sent to China, where Russian methanol began to be supplied only in 2022. The reorientation to eastern markets is complicated by logistics costs and lower sales prices.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia is developing a strategy for the development of the methanol industry aimed at increasing export supplies to the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, Turkey and India.^[2]

Growth of investments in the chemical complex by 13% to 900 billion rubles

In 2023, about 900 billion rubles were invested in the chemical industry of Russia against 796 billion rubles a year earlier. Daria Shevyakina, deputy director of the chemical industry department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, announced an increase in investments by 13% on January 23, 2024.

Investment activity in the chemical complex continues. In the past [2023], net investments amounted to almost 1 trillion rubles... 16 new investment projects have been implemented. Therefore, in principle, we can say that chemists overcome crisis situations quite stubbornly, despite the entire geopolitical situation, "she said (quoted by Interfax), speaking at one of the forums.

In 2023, about 900 billion rubles were invested in the chemical industry

From the presentation of Shevyakina it follows that the size of state support for Russian enterprises of the chemical complex in 2023 reached 34.9 billion rubles, an increase of 1.2% on an annualized basis (in 2022 it was 34.47 billion rubles). The Industrial Development Fund in 2023 issued loans to chemical enterprises of 12.5 billion rubles. Another 1.9 billion rubles of state support fell on compensation for the costs of research and design work (NIKOR).

It is also reported that the consumption of products of the Russian chemical complex in 2023 increased by 11.6%, to 8.34 trillion rubles. This indicator was achieved due to the growth in the production of plastic products. The production of pipes, hoses and fittings made of plastics increased by 9%, plates and polymer films - by 10%, packaging plastic products - by 15%, bottles - by 20%.

At the end of 2023, we added well in terms of chemical consumption. Obviously, consuming industries, related industries, such as aviation, construction and many others, have reoriented to a greater extent to Russian suppliers with a slight increase in imports, - said the deputy director of the chemical industry department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.[3]

2022: Reduction in sulphur exports by 32% to 1.23 million tonnes

By the end of 2022, sulfur exports from Russia decreased by 32% compared to 2021 - to 1.23 million tons. This is evidenced by the data of the analytical company BusinesStat, released at the end of December 2023.

Experts, speaking about the reasons for the fall in Russian sulfur supplies abroad, noted the problems of market participants with logistics, ship freight, payment and insurance.

In August 2022, the Government of the Russian Federation established a quota for sulfur exports in the amount of 1.1 million tons for the period from August 10 to December 31, 2022. This measure was aimed at providing raw materials to domestic producers of mineral fertilizers. In December 2022, the size of the quota was increased to 1.6 million tons. As a result, Russian gas and oil refining companies had the opportunity to send additional volumes of sulfur for export. However, at the end of 2022, foreign supplies decreased. At the end of 2022, the government raised the quota for sulfur exports by 500 thousand tons - up to 1.6 million tons.

The study also says that during 2018-2021, sulfur exports from Russia mainly decreased. The exception was 2019, when supplies increased by 30%: from 3.08 to 3.99 million tons. The reason was the multiple increase in exports to Morocco. In 2020-2021. a decrease in demand, a decrease in production and logistical problems amid the pandemic led to a reduction in the export of Russian sulfur to almost all countries. For 2019-2021, foreign supplies decreased by 55%: from 3.99 to 1.81 million tons.

According to the Federal Antimonopoly Service, 80% of sulfur in industry goes to the production of sulfuric acid, and almost 80% of sulfuric acid goes to the production of mineral fertilizers.^[4]

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