The Future of the PPE Market in Russia: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

Currently, the personal protective equipment market has excellent prospects for further growth.

The dynamic development of the Russian economy, which has gradually recovered from the shocking events of 2020 and 2022, could not but affect the personal protective equipment market. Thus, its growth rate is approximately twice as high as the global average. We will talk about its main indicators and prospects below.

Current situation on the Russian PPE market

The global market for personal protective equipment is estimated at more than $78 billion, with the potential to almost double (to $131 billion) by 2030. In turn, the Russian market is estimated at approximately $3 billion: according to this indicator, the Russian Federation ranks fourth, behind the United States, China, and Germany. At the same time, the growth rate of the domestic PPE market ( 13% annually) is almost twice the global average (6.7%).

What is the reason for such a rapid development of the Russian PPE market? It is worth highlighting two main factors.

The first is the growth of economic activity, which has led to the creation of new jobs, including those involving hazardous working conditions. The second factor is that enterprises have begun to pay more attention to labor protection (including due to the improvement of legislation), realizing that accidents directly affect the efficiency of the company. In particular, the demand for PPE among manufacturing enterprises has grown by more than half over the past 6 years, and among extractive industry enterprises - by almost a third.

Let's look at some more interesting figures. In total, 16 million employees of various enterprises in Russia are provided with personal protective equipment. On average, the cost of a PPE set is about 15 thousand rubles, while for workers at hazardous enterprises and industries it is almost 18 thousand rubles.

It is worth noting that the events of 2022 had little impact on the Russian PPE market. Domestic manufacturers understand the specifics of the market (including climatic nuances) and are ready to meet customer demand.

Key growth drivers and prospects for the PPE market

One of the key drivers of PPE market growth is the development of legislation regulating this industry. This applies to both various by-laws and GOSTs. Thus, on January 1, 2024, three new GOSTs came into force concerning the use of personal protective equipment: GOST ISO 4869-1-2023, GOST 12.4.321.4-2022 and GOST 12.4.320.3-2022. In addition, back in 2021, the Ministry of Labor approved new rules for providing employees with PPE, which are mandatory for implementation. Among the promising trends in improving legislation, it is worth highlighting the gradual transition from exclusively encouraging employers to purchase PPE to their correct use.

It is also worth noting the impact of the risk-oriented approach that has become widespread in recent years on the PPE market. It assumes an increase in the responsibility of employers in terms of providing workers with personal protective equipment, which, in turn, leads to an increase in demand for such products.

The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the importance of protection against various bacteriological and viral risks. Given this trend, a number of companies are stockpiling such products for the future.

In the development of the previous trend, another vector can be identified - the creation of significant reserves of various PPE, including at the state level. This will allow in the event of an emergency to have a reserve of such products and relatively quickly allocate the required amount to solve the tasks at hand.

It is impossible not to note the trend of the population purchasing PPE for personal use. One of the reasons for this trend is the dynamic growth of the construction complex in general and suburban housing construction in particular.

The possibilities for purchasing personal protective equipment are also expanding . If previously they could be purchased mainly in specialized construction stores or in stores selling workwear, now PPE is actively represented on the largest marketplaces.

The ergonomics and comfort of personal protective equipment are growing . Moreover, new complex and multi-textured options are appearing on the market. There is also a tendency to merge PPE with tactical equipment, as well as clothing for active recreation and tourism.

All of the above will allow, at a minimum, to maintain the current growth rates of the PPE market. Moreover, as the macroeconomic situation stabilizes (in particular, the key rate decreases) and, accordingly, investment activity increases, the dynamics of the domestic PPE market may demonstrate even more significant growth.

Why is it necessary to participate in the Securika Moscow exhibition?

In the context of a dynamically growing market for personal protective equipment, it is important to understand its trends and make decisions promptly. Partnerships, both new and already established, also play an important role. And one of the most effective ways to solve such problems is participation in industry events.

The international exhibition of technical security equipment and equipment for ensuring security and fire protection Securika Moscow is the largest event of its kind in Russia, attracting the attention of leading consumers of security solutions. In 2024, this event was attended by 20,379 specialists from 81 regions of the Russian Federation and 22 countries. It is worth noting that 93% of them influence decisions on purchasing products, and 64% occupy leadership positions. This allows to significantly speed up the negotiation process, avoiding unnecessary formalities.

The new section "Occupational Safety. Personal Protective Equipment" was presented at the Securika Moscow 2023 exhibition. Due to this, already in 2024, a number of major players in this market were able to demonstrate their solutions and products in this segment. This year, the section dedicated to personal protective equipment was of interest to 2,163 visitors ( 16% of the total number of exhibition guests).

If your company produces or supplies personal protective equipment, then participation in the 30th International Exhibition of Technical Security Equipment and Equipment for Ensuring Security and Fire Protection Securika Moscow will allow you to find new partners, strengthen relationships with existing ones and expand the geography of sales.