Russian nonwoven industry unhurt by West sanctions

The Russian nonwovens industry has shrugged off the potential impact of tougher sanctions that maybe imposed against Russia by the European Union (EU) and the US because of the Ukraine crisis, although there is concern about the loss of valuable imported inputs.

Speaking as the USA and EU expanded sanctions to more Russian and Ukraine politicians deemed responsible for fomenting unrest in Ukraine and fostering the annexation of Crimea, Vladimir Shavkin, chairman of the Russian Association of Nonwovens Producers stressed that Russian manufacturers are not heavily dependent on foreign markets for sales. As a result, he said, broader-based EU and USA import restrictions would not have disastrous consequences for his countrys nonwovens sector.