Ukraine exports 98% of raw materials for glass production to Russia and Belarus and imports finished glass produced in these countries, according to an article of the Economichna Pravda.

At the same time, Ukraine takes second place in Eastern Europe for the reserves of raw materials required for glass manufacturing. Most of the Ukrainian 100 fields have the proven reserves of 5 million tons each.

However, every year 2% of the extracted raw materials are processed into low-quality products that the construction engineering sector cannot use because of outdated technology. Another 18% are bought by Belarus. The remaining 80% are exported to Russia.

Last year exports to Russia reached 300,000 tons which was worth 6 million US dollars.

The author notes that the local market requires about 3.4 billion square meters of construction-grade glass. Last year the import of high-quality glass only for production of multiple glazed units reached 314,000 tons.
Ukraine has produced 673 tons of glass using 19th-century technology by the method of pulling and molding. Such glass products cannot be used in modern buildings conforming to the requirements of technical norms of the European Union to which the country has committed itself in view of the Association with the EU.

Ukrainian builders and domestic manufacturers of windows import glass from Russia and Belarus annually for nearly 80 million dollars.

The annual increase of world production of construction-grade glass is 7%. The average level of consumption of glass per capita in the world differs depending on the level of economy development.

For countries with transitional or developing economies, the consumption level is from 3 to 5 kg per capita. In developed Europe, it is 18 to 28 kg, depending on the country.

Ukraine produces approximately 3.5 kg per capita and consumes less than 5 kg per citizen. This does not include modern float-glass. The demand for modern glass in Ukraine is completely covered by imports.

  glass imports, Ukraine, Russia

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