24. Oct 2025
Sibur develops in-house polyol capability as sanctions reshape Russia’s chemical industry
Russian petrochemical producer Sibur has begun producing its own polyols for automotive seat foam and is building a catalyst facility in Kazan as part of a wider drive to replace Western chemical imports lost due to sanctions following the war in Ukraine.
Russian petrochemicals giant Sibur has unveiled a dual-track strategy to boost local chemical production by developing its own series of polyols for polyurethane foam and building a catalyst manufacturing complex – moves driven by Western supply chain exits post-Ukraine. The company’s press release, dated today, 24 October 2025, announces that Sibur has launched a polyurethane foam system for automotive seats based on internally produced polyether components and that the company has begun constructing a catalyst production facility in Kazan.
According to the report, Sibur’s automotive-grade foam system entered deliveries to tier-one seat manufacturers in spring 2025. It emphasises performance attributes such as elasticity, durability and vibration absorption tailored for Russian vehicle production. In parallel, Sibur says it has created more than 30 new product grades and over 300 formulation solutions over the past two years across industries including automotive, packaging and medicine.
The initiative includes building a full innovation-cycle manufacturing stream: the company opened a Technology Pilot Center in Tobolsk in 2024 to accelerate catalyst and polymer development, and in 2025 began construction of a dedicated Kazan catalyst facility. Catalysts are key additives that influence polymer strength, flexibility and heat resistance – and historically were imported from Europe, the United States and Japan (the former USSR began importing polyols and isocyanates from Western suppliers as part of the perestroika reforms). Sibur says in-house catalyst production will enable domestic control over polymerisation systems critical to synthetic materials.
The projects reflect a broader industrial shift: as Western chemical firms withdrew from Russia following sanctions, downstream sectors faced supply shortfalls in feedstocks like polyols, isocyanates and catalysts. Sibur’s strategy aims to localise these inputs, extend export potential and support Russia’s pursuit of technological independence in base polymers. Whether the new polyols and catalysts can match Western-derived performance and consistency remains to be tested – but the path signals a change in the global polyurethane supply chain.
Photo: Russian flag [Oleg Podlesnykh/Unsplash]