FRANKFURT, April 1 (Reuters) - The chair of Germany's Henkel defended the decision to continue doing business in Russia as one that is not motivated by profit but an effort to provide for the daily needs of its citizens, according to an interview published on Friday.

Henkel, the maker of Persil detergent and Schwarzkopf shampoo with a large manufacturing presence in Russia, is not in the country to earn profit given the weak rouble and difficulties in the country, chair Simone Bagel-Trah told Handeslblatt.

"We mainly produce goods for daily use for the population," she said.

She said she did not rule out scaling back activities further. Henkel has stopped new investment in Russia as well as advertising. (Reporting by Tom Sims Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)