The transition from the Soviet Union to the smaller Russian Federation was a tumultuous one for the society at many levels. On the economic front, it caused many Russian industries to wither for a time, even those concentrated within the old geographical boundaries of what is now the Russian Federation.

The shrinking of the Russian cement manufacturing capacity during this period can be seen clearly in the two years’ worth of market size data presented below. From 1990 to 2009 the Russian annual cement production reached a nadir of 26 million metric tons (Mt). The Russian cement market is now experiencing a sort of renaissance, according to the source, due in large part to the advantage it has with regard to its sizable energy reserves.

Geographic reference: Russian Federation
Year: 1990 and 2009
Market size: 85 million Mt and 44 million Mt respectively
Source: “Russian Cement Market: History and Outlook,” Global Cement Magazine, October 2010, page 44.