Russia's sole fluoropolymer producer HaloPolymer (Moscow; www.halopolymer.com) is currently expanding and modernising its production at a cost of just under EUR 2m. According to CEO Artem Gnevnov, who took over at the start of 2020, capacities for halogenated hydrocarbons used as refrigerants and for fluoropolymers are to be increased around 15% each. At the same time, the company is expanding its product portfolio to include diiodoperfluorobutane. This is used, among other things, for the synthesis of fluoropolymers and fluoroelastomers.

For its two production sites in Kirovo-Chepetsk and Perm, the company's latest figures show joint capacity of 12,700 t/y, primarily for PTFE. Additionally, a similar production level is available for refrigerants, along with a considerably greater capacity of roughly 300,000 t/y for a range of other inorganic chemicals. The company exports 90% of its products, with Italy, Germany and the US acting as the main customer countries.