"Yes, it really is. This is sodium chlorate, which is produced in Uzbekistan," Denis Manturov, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, told reporters.

The Minister noted that Russia has the main components for paper production, and companies can purchase sodium chlorate used for its bleaching in China or Uzbekistan, TASS reports.

"But we have much shorter logistics in Uzbekistan. Within the framework of Innoprom, a delegation from Russia held these talks," D. added. Manturov.

One of the largest producers of sodium chlorate in the CIS is the Uzbek chemical company JSC "Ferganaazot".

In March, the prices of office paper in the Russian Federation rose sharply after the statement of the Finnish company Kemira about the termination of supplies to Russia and Belarus of sodium chlorate, with which cellulose is bleached for the production of white paper.