INTERPLASTICA 2010

Russia: Good Long-Term Prospects Inspire Confidence in Plastics and Rubber Market

After years of impressive growth rates, the Russian plastics and rubber processing industry is suffering the consequences of the global financial and economic crisis. Despite this, however, the long-term prospects are considered favourable: the need for modernisation in the country itself and in neighbouring states is still tremendous, interest in innovative technologies continues unchecked. In these times of more expensive imports, many user industries are making tremendous efforts to improve their own competitive positions and to gain advantages by introducing modern machinery. Suppliers of plastic and packaging machinery are aided in this by the fact that, from 1st July 2009, Russia will no longer be levying import sales tax on a range of machinery and equipment. This will enable foreign manufacturers to gain a clear price advantage in areas where there is no production of corresponding products in Russia. This also applies to injection moulding, vacuum forming and shrink-wrap machines. (Source: Germany Trade and Invest – Gesellschaft für Außenwirtschaft und Standortmarketing GmbH.)