Ukrainian window manufacturers can independently meet Ukraine's demand for windows, even with the post-war reconstruction. This was stated by Oleksii Bubnov, Executive Director of the Association of Window and Facade Market Participants, during the TeamWIN business conference "Window and Glass Days in Ukraine" 2023, in response to a false narrative that has emerged and is circulating in the country.
The Swiss non-profit association Re-Win is even implementing the Window for Ukraine initiative. ReWin collects old Swiss windows and transports them to Ukraine, although the constructions probably do not meet the requirements of the current DBN V.2.6-31:2021 "Thermal insulation and energy efficiency of buildings" and cannot help rebuild many times better than before.
The Ukrainian window industry has enough capacity to produce a large number of structures. This was also confirmed by Edem Khaurmadzhi, Sales Director of AXOR INDUSTRY in Ukraine. The only manufacturer of tilt-and-turn hardware in Ukraine can now produce 8 million sets per year.
The window industry is not experiencing a shortage in the market, but a drop in overall volumes.
To support Ukrainian producers, specialised associations initiate discussions of market problems with government agencies. For example, at the Window and Glass Days in Ukraine conference, the president of the All-Ukrainian Union of Building Materials Manufacturers, Kostiantyn Salii, asked whether there was a possibility to add a non-price criterion for local producers to the Prozorro system. Olena Shuliak, Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on the Organisation of State Power and Local Self-Government, expressed her readiness to work on the proposals together with the Committee on Economics.
However, despite the government's understanding of the importance of supporting domestic producers, Ukrainian companies need to prepare for increased competition. According to Tetiana Kravets, CEO of Claybury Ukraine, Ukrainian businesses will face a reduction in staff and strong imports.
According to Tetiana, Ukrainian businesses need to increase efficiency: constantly learn, work on process optimisation and get rid of unnecessary costs.