The Soyuzcement association, which brings together the leading companies in the cement industry, has appealed to the Ministry of Industry and Trade to verify the legal basis of spring road restrictions across Russia. The push comes after regional authorities limited traffic on certain routes to allow road drying following snowmelt, a measure that has unintentionally disrupted freight logistics for cement producers and suppliers. The appeal, reported by Kommersant on the basis of a letter from Soyuzcement, signals a request for official scrutiny and policy alignment to prevent unnecessary bottlenecks in essential materials supply chains as the season changes and transit demands rise.
Traditionally, many regions restrict the movement of heavy vehicles during the core spring period, typically for up to 30 days spanning April through June. This year, such restrictions were implemented in 67 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, including Bashkortostan, Mordovia, Bryansk, Ryazan, Lipetsk, and Voronezh regions along with the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The Gereport highlights that these regional measures complicate the transportation of cement and related building materials, impacting manufacturers, distributors, and construction projects that rely on timely deliveries to maintain production schedules and meet customer commitments.
In its official communications, Soyuzcement reiterates that the association, which unites major players in the cement sector, has requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to examine the justification for the spring movement restrictions imposed by the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The group also calls for the Ministry of Transport to participate in resolving the issue, stressing that the current restrictions add to the financial burden already shouldered by the industry during a period of high operational costs and market volatility. The cement sector sees a need for a coordinated approach that balances road safety and infrastructure work with uninterrupted supply chains that underpin construction activity across the country, especially in urban development, housing programs, and regional infrastructure projects as reconstruction and modernization efforts continue.
Meanwhile, Anton Solon, Executive Director of the National Association of Manufacturers of Building Materials, Products and Structures (NOPSM), underscored in a late February statement that the Russian construction market is gradually addressing import substitution for key building materials. Despite substantial trade restrictions and intermittent disruptions in supply chains, the industry has managed to stabilize the production of cement, aerated concrete, and other essential components. In this context, Solon noted that this period of adjustment requires careful management of transport and logistics to ensure that domestic manufacturers can maintain steady output while imports adjust to new economic conditions, ensuring continued availability for builders and consumers across regions.