Finland, which refused Russian refractory bricks due to sanctions, is looking for alternative options. Russian brick was considered ideal for stone construction, while it was affordable and inexpensive for local artisans. However, after the introduction of sanctions against Russia, Finland had to suspend its purchases. This led to a shortage of available refractory material, which became especially noticeable in the construction industry when facing fireplaces and stoves. According to analysts, this may also lead to a shortage of fireplaces in the country. Some bricklayers are already looking for alternative sources of supplies, including possible supplies from Italy. However, they expressed doubts about the quality of the imported goods. «The Russian refractory brick was dense and strong. And there are a lot of microcracks in new imported bricks,» construction companies note. Currently, Finland is using its remnants of Russian bricks purchased before February 2022. In addition, the country has developed its own product made from recycled materials, which is planned to be released in the fall.
