Russia ups steel output
Russia's Federal Statistics Service disclosed that the country's finished steel output rose 1.6 percent year on year to 54.6 million metric tons in 2005. Iron ore output fell 2.6 percent year on year to 94.5 million metric tons in 2005 while coke production decreased 7.7 percent to 31.6 million metric tons. However, coal production rose 5.8 percent to 298 million metric tons. Steel pipe production rose 10.6 percent year on year to 6.7 million metric tons in 2005.