Russkaya Stal (Russian Steel), a non-profit association of Russian domestic steelmakers, has reported that its main member enterprises produced 4.55 million metric tons of finished steel in July this year, up 2.7 percent from June and decreasing by 2.2 percent compared to July last year. Finished steel production of the member enterprises came to 31.7 million mt in the January-July period this year, down 2.6 percent compared to the same period of last year.
Finished steel shipments of Russian Steel member companies to domestic end-users in July were up by 1.1 percent month on month to 2.67 million mt, while year-on-year figures indicated a 0.7 percent decrease. In the first seven months of this year, Russian Steel companies shipped 18.44 million mt of finished steel to the local market, up 1.2 percent year on year.
Members of Russian Steel exported 1.88 million mt of finished steel in July, down 6.5 percent compared to July last year. In the January-July period, export shipments amounted to 13.26 million mt, down 7.5 percent year on year.
Members of Russian Steel account for 96 percent of the pig iron produced in Russia as well as 90 percent of domestic crude and finished steel production.