Governor Drozdenko to ask Manturov for tariffs on corundum imports
At a press conference on the results of 2025, Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko stated the need to support the production of corundum and other strategically important products.
He noted that the region«s industrial production index might not reach 2024 levels. Among the reasons is a decrease in automotive tire output at the Aicon Tires plant, which has redirected supplies from European and North American markets to Asia and South America. Additionally, the Tikhvin Railcar Building Plant has reduced volumes due to falling demand for coal transportation.
To address these issues, Drozdenko is preparing an appeal to First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov. The governor will ask for the imposition of customs duties on the import of certain goods that, in his opinion, negatively affect Russian producers.
As an example, he cited corundum, which was previously fully produced in Russia at the Rusal Boksitogorsk JSC plant in Pikalyovo. Currently, this material is actively imported from China at lower prices due to the absence of duties.
A major consumer — the Luzhsky Abrasive Plant — as a result buys Chinese corundum, which threatens domestic production.
Alexander Drozdenko drew a parallel with the situation at the Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant, where products are also losing competitiveness in the domestic market due to the strengthening ruble.
«We cannot allow the shutdown of corundum and ferroalloy production. Denis Manturov has already helped us with a number of complex issues, and I hope we will find understanding on current matters as well,» the governor stated.
Production capacities in Pikalyovo output about 25 thousand tons of corundum per year. According to 2024 data, the total production volume of artificial corundum in Russia was 99.6 thousand tons.
However, imports of this product from China in 2025 reached over 2 million tons worth $988 million. The increase compared to 2024 was 25% in tonnage and 8% in monetary terms.
