According to the data released by the Russian Federation's Federal State Statistics Service, in the first month of 2008 the country registered a 2.2 percent rise in coal mining output and a 2.9 percent rise in iron ore mining output year on year. The respective figures in metric tons were 28.8 million and nine million.
In addition, during the same period Russia produced 2.9 million metric tons of coke - up 3.8 percent, 5.4 million metric tons of finished steel products - up 3.4 percent, and 565,000 metric tons of steel pipes - down 15.9 percent, all compared to January 2007.