The textile and apparel industry in Russia is one of the 15 major industries that are closely reviewed by economists for statistical analysis of the Russian economy. Russia is one of the largest and fastest growing markets in the world’s economy. The demand for consumer goods both fast moving and consumer durables also increased significantly.

Although an average actual income in Russia is not high, about 5,700 euro, Russian customers annually purchase expensive clothes and accessories for 600 million euro; 7% of Russians can afford to buy expensive goods of good quality. For example, the consumer market in Russia is actually bigger than Paris. Moscow inhabitants’ yearly disposable income is 4000 dollars compared to 9000 dollars for their French counterparts. However, Muscovites spend 80% of their disposable income on consumer goods and French just 40%. This makes Moscow an extremely attractive market.

There are currently about 2,000 companies and workshops in Russia, which produce plastic and machinery by moulding. Eighty percent of these companies use obsolete equipment for production.

Greece's role as the economic engine of Southeast Europe creates a significant multiplier effect for businesses that want to operate throughout the Balkan region. Businesses that are directed towards Greece and the surrounding region enjoy multiple trade advantages and have access to one of the fastest growing markets in the world.

With its huge population, diverse economy and reforming industrial base, Russia is potentially one of the biggest markets in the world. The Russian Federation, has 145 million inhabitants, 700 billion dollars of purchasing capacity, and its economy; which shows 6.5% of growth per year, represents an important market. This country with its 55 billion budgetary surplus and other countries around constitute an important potential market for exporters of various goods.

The Russian market has the potential to become one of the largest markets in the world, so in the near future, considerable growth of industrial machinery manufacture and consumption can be expected. However, for the brave of heart, Russia’s growing markets offer moulders many opportunities. A moulder willing to do the due diligence required will find opportunity in this maturing market.

Moulders can be confident that domestic plastic consumption, which to date amounts to 5 kg per capita annually, will benefit from this increased consumer spending. Production of plastic products increased 15% overall last year, and those made by various moulding methods by 40%.

Machine tools are the DNA of industrial economies: they are the machines which make all other machines. Because the production of machine tools requires a highly skilled workforce, massive engineering talent, and complex networks of researchers and designers, the health of the machine tools sector is one of the most revealing indicators of the competitiveness of an economy.

The Russian machine tools market is one of the most dynamic markets due to the necessity of refurbishing the numerous heavy engineering production sites. According to the data provided by the Ministry of Industry and Science not less than 80% out of the 1.5 million machines tools currently operated in Russia require replacement or major refurbishment.