SIBUR and Netkanika sign strategic cooperation agreemen
SIBUR and Netkanika signed a strategic cooperation agreement aimed at facilitating the export of polypropylene nonwoven materials produced by Netkanika from SIBUR’s polypropylene. In February 2019, SIBUR and the Russian Export Center (REC) launched Export Accelerator, a joint educational initiative to enhance client export potential and expertise in foreign economic affairs. The participants completed their training with individual product export and foreign market expansion cases, learning to roll out and scale up their export initiatives going forward. The participants included eleven SIBUR’s clients in polymer processing that seek to boost overseas sales or show strong potential for entering international markets. SIBUR produces a wide range of polypropylene grades, including feedstock for nonwovens finding application in hygiene and healthcare, such as baby and adult hygiene products and medical goods for body and skin contact uses. “SIBUR consistently cultivates the demand for modern polymer products. The agreement with Netkanika will foster the export of high-quality polypropylene nonwoven materials to the markets outside Russia and the Customs Union,” said Sergey Komyshan, member of SIBUR’s Management Board and Executive Director. “Our nonwovens for body and skin contact application are produced with the highest quality feedstock,” said Andrey Zimin, General Manager of Netkanika LLC. “The new strategic agreement between Netkanika and SIBUR is sure to kick-start Netkanika’s export sales.” About SIBUR: SIBUR is the leader of the Russian petrochemical industry and one of the largest companies globally in this sector. It has more than 26,000 employees. The Company’s unique vertically integrated business model allows it to create highly competitive products consumed in the chemical, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), automotive, construction, energy and other industries in 80 countries worldwide. SIBUR helps to reduce CO2 emissions stemming from the burning of oil extraction by-products, such as associated petroleum gas (APG), by recycling them instead. In 2018, SIBUR processed 22.3 billion cubic metres of APG, thus cutting greenhouse emissions by 72 million tonnes, which is equivalent to the annual CO2 footprint of a middle-sized European country. In 2018, SIBUR reported revenue of USD 9.1 billion and EBITDA of USD 3.2 billion. Over the past 10 years, SIBUR has implemented a number of large-scale investment projects worth more than RUB 850 billion. Each year, the Company spends no less than 70% of its EBITDA to finance the investment program, while maintaining a balanced debt burden.