Russian Paints and Coatings: Standards, Production and Export

Paints and coatings form one of the base segments of the Russian chemical industry, meeting the needs of construction, industrial production, shipbuilding, the oil and gas sector and household repair. The industry has moved from significant dependence on imported brands to the dominance of domestic producers, but in 2025-2026 faced a cooling of demand from the construction sector and tighter regulatory requirements. For the B2B segment, this category matters both as an object of large-scale procurement and as an export direction with stable potential in the EAEU and Central Asia.

Regulatory Framework and Transition to the New Technical Regulation

Regulation of paints and coatings in Russia and the EAEU is in a reform phase. Until recently, mandatory safety requirements for coatings were largely determined by national standards and separate regulations, as well as TR CU 009/2011 for perfumery and cosmetic products, which created legal uncertainty for manufacturers and importers.

The situation changed on 20 May 2026, when the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission adopted Technical Regulation TR EAEU 053/2026 "On the safety of paints and coatings". The new regulation establishes unified mandatory requirements for a wide range of products: paints, varnishes, primers, water-borne materials, enamels, glazes, impregnations, wood protection products, wood stains, fire-retardant compositions, decorative plasters, putties and drying oils. Full application of the regulation is expected from 2028, giving the industry a transition period to adapt production processes, laboratory control and permitting documentation.

In parallel, a system of national standards applies, regulating test methods and requirements for certain types of products. Key GOSTs cover the determination of film elasticity in bending, conventional viscosity, and general requirements for construction paints and coatings. For export supplies, quality must comply with the importing country's requirements, as well as international standards in industrial safety and environmental protection.

Market and Production Dynamics

The Russian coatings market shows mixed dynamics. According to BusinesStat, sales of paints and coatings in Russia declined by about 1% annually in 2024-2025, reaching 2.07 million tonnes by the end of the period. In 2024, sales amounted to 2.13 million tonnes, up 1% year-on-year. The main factor in the slowdown was the reduction in housing construction after the end of the mass subsidised mortgage programme and the rise in the key rate, which reduced investment activity in the construction sector.

According to Group CREON, total coatings production in Russia by the end of 2025 declined by 6.9% compared to the previous year. Consumption of all types of coatings decreased by 8-9%. In the first quarter of 2026, production continued to decline: according to Rosstat, just over 462.5 thousand tonnes were produced, or 87.6% of the same period in 2025. In January-May 2026, total output amounted to 611 thousand tonnes, or 94.9% of the same period of the previous year, corresponding to a 5.1% decline.

The consumption structure is skewed towards water-borne materials, which accounted for 47% of the market in 2024, while solvent-borne compositions accounted for 28%. The industrial segment accounts for about 44% of the total coatings market, and in 2025 total consumption in this segment declined. Amid falling demand, Russian plants increased output by about 0.7-0.8% compared to 2024, reflecting production adaptation to new conditions and a reorientation towards more sustainable niches.

The powder coatings market also faced contraction: by the end of 2025 its volume decreased by 10% compared to 2024. The decline also affected related segments: production of polymer materials for floor, wall and ceiling coatings in the first quarter of 2026 fell by 24.8% to almost 52 million square metres, and coatings output in the same period decreased by 9.6% to 314 thousand tonnes.

Key Manufacturers and Supply Structure

The Russian paints and coatings industry is highly concentrated and features both large international groups that have retained production in Russia and national leaders. The largest coatings producers in Russia include ABC Farben (Voronezh Oblast), Akzo Nobel Decorative and Akzo Nobel Coatings (Lipetsk Oblast), High-Dispersion Metal Powders, KGS Building Systems, Knauf Gips, Prime Top and Tikkurila.

The largest Russian manufacturer by revenue remains Lakra Syntez, whose revenue reached RUB 6 billion in 2025, up 4%. The company specialises in a wide range of construction and finishing materials. Russian Paints JSC (Yaroslavl) remains the only Russian representative in the global Coatings World ranking of the largest coatings companies, taking 72nd place in 2025 and improving its result by three positions compared to the previous year.

The Russian division of Akzo Nobel, after its assets were transferred to temporary management, resumed direct supplies to the CIS countries that had been interrupted in 2022-2025. The company produces products under the Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon brands, and the Lipetsk Akzo Nobel Coatings plant has produced protective coatings for metal packaging and coil stock since 2007, and since 2016 also industrial and marine coatings for the oil and gas, energy and shipbuilding industries.

Exports: Geography and Dynamics

Russian exports of paints and coatings are oriented primarily towards the EAEU and Central Asia. According to CREON Group, by category, 68.1% of exports are decorative paints and coatings, and the remaining 31.9% are industrial. Key export destinations remain the EAEU countries, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

In 2025, Russia exported about 85 thousand tonnes of paints and coatings to Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, 21% more than a year earlier. The supply structure is dominated by anti-corrosion and fire-retardant coatings, whose share exceeds 60%. Russian manufacturers are actively developing their presence in Central Asia, including through assembly production and partnerships with local distributors.

The export geography is distributed as follows: Kazakhstan accounts for about 31% of supplies, Belarus for 26%, and Uzbekistan for 17%. Supplies are also made to the Baltic States and other countries. The resumption of exports by the Russian division of Akzo Nobel to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Armenia indicates the restoration of logistics chains and expansion of presence in CIS markets.

The total market for paints and coatings in Belarus, Kazakhstan and Central Asian countries is estimated at RUB 55 billion, or 445 thousand tonnes, with annual growth of about 4%. This creates stable demand for Russian products and opens opportunities for further supply growth.

Logistics and Supply Conditions

Logistics of paints and coatings has a number of features related to the chemical composition of products, temperature requirements and the hazard of certain cargo categories. Water-borne materials are less sensitive to transportation conditions, while solvent-borne compositions require compliance with dangerous goods transportation rules, including restrictions on temperature and compatibility with other goods.

For export supplies to the EAEU and Central Asia, rail and road transport are mainly used. For supplies to remote regions and the Baltic States, sea routes through the Baltic and Black Sea ports are used. Packaging must ensure hermeticity and protection from mechanical damage; specialised containers and tankers are used for large batches.

For export batches, declarations of conformity, certificates of origin and, for certain product categories, documents confirming compliance with the importing country's requirements are required. Financial support for the transaction may include letters of credit, bank guarantees and cargo insurance. For long-term contracts, it is advisable to fix a mechanism for adjusting terms when raw material costs, logistics tariffs and exchange rate fluctuations change.

Prospects and Selection Factors

The Russian paints and coatings industry is in a phase of structural adaptation to changed demand and new regulatory requirements. Key success factors are completing the transition to TR EAEU 053/2026, modernising production capacities, expanding the range of value-added products, and developing export channels in the EAEU and Central Asia.

For buyers, not only price per unit matters but also the type of material (water-borne, solvent-borne, powder), application area (construction, industry, shipbuilding), compliance with mandatory requirements, availability of certificates and declarations, storage and packaging conditions, supply chain reputation, and laboratory confirmation of compliance and a complete package of accompanying documents for export batches. Understanding standards, technological differences and market structure helps reduce risks and build long-term contracts.

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If you are looking for Russian paints and coatings, need advice on product selection, quality parameters and supply organisation, please contact our team at info@apptrade.ru. We will help you find the right product, verify documentation and organise supply.