A new report from the Dekleptocracy Project — a US civil society group and member of the B4Ukraine Coalition — identifies critical chokepoints in Russia’s chemical supply chain.
Russia cannot manufacture the chemicals necessary to produce industrial lubricants, without which engines do not run, trains do not roll, turbines do not spin, and assembly lines do not operate. The country relies entirely on a single unsanctioned Chinese company for these supplies.
Russia also cannot manufacture the catalysts needed to crack petroleum molecules and refine crude oil, importing its entire supply from a single Indian company.
The study examines vulnerabilities in rubber and tire production, oil refining catalysts, lubricant additives, and the activities of Russian chemical trading companies that act as intermediaries for sanctions evasion.
Key Findings
There are key vulnerabilities in the Russian chemical sector related to rubber, refining, lubricants, and plastics production, among others.
Most Russian enterprises that previously relied on chemical inputs from Europe, America, or other countries that support Ukraine have switched to Chinese providers. China appears to be able to replace almost any chemical industry input from Europe or North America, with some important exceptions.
Russia has serious vulnerabilities in its rubber and tire production sector, mostly related to the supply of vulcanization accelerator and anti-scorching chemicals. The Italian company Pirelli still plays an important role in Russian rubber and tire production, and a Pirelli-owned factory may be currently producing or assisting in the production of tires for the Russian military.
The Bashkir Soda Company, a major Russian chemical enterprise involved in Russian military production, is continuing to import European chemical inputs via the UAE.
Starting in late December 2023, Russia has been manipulating its import data related to catalysts, progressively shutting off information before totally cutting off information from bills of lading in October 2024.
Russia is dependent on exporters in India and China for catalysts related to oil refining.
The Russian state is aware of its weaknesses in the chemical industry and launched a national-level project in 2025 to build up this sector and reduce its dependence on imported inputs.