The first after China: Russia receives more than 20% of epoxy resins needed for Iskander production from Italy – Corriere della Sera
15 October 21:58
The Russian Federation received at least 232 tons of liquid epoxy resins from Italy in 2024, accounting for 21% of imports, and it became the second supplier after China (42%), according to a study by the Economic Security Council of Ukraine (ESC), Corriere della Sera reports. Among other things, these imported raw materials are needed for the production of carbon fiber bodies for Iskander-M ballistic missiles.
According to the Economic Security Council of Ukraine, epoxy resins were supplied to Russia by Sir Industriale S.p.A. from Mario in Brianza (Lombardy). The company, in response to a request from Corriere della Sera, noted that due to its high molecular weight, its products are intended only for civilian use: coating tuna canned food, preserves or steel products, etc.
However, customs data analyzed by the Economic Security Council of Ukraine and Corriere della Sera recorded 18 shipments of low molecular weight liquid epoxy resins from Sir Industriale S.p.A., which have HS code 3907300009 and can be used in military production. This is also confirmed by Russian importers: “Uralproekt, YAZPK, and Prime Top, all of which are affiliated with the KB Mashinostroeniya Research and Production Corporation (KBM), which manufactures missiles for the Iskander-M system. Also, some of the transactions were carried out through the Polish company Kamex Magazyn, which may indicate an intention to conceal the final recipient.
At the time of the supply to Sir Industriale, EU sanctions on epoxy resins had not yet been voted on, and therefore there was no violation of them. Nevertheless, European exporters can independently check their customers’ ties with the Russian government and military industry if they do not want their products to become weapons of the aggressor,” said Olena Yurchenko, Director of Analytics, Research and Investigations at the Economic Security Council of Ukraine.
Earlier, the Economic Security Council of Ukraine revealed the supply of 300 tons of Belgian stibium oxide under sanctions worth more than €4.5 million to Russia, as well as Russia’s critical dependence on imported sodium chlorate, which is also needed to produce Iskander-M ballistic missiles.
Read us on Telegram: important topics – without censorship
