Russian, Ukrainian iron ore exports in January-May

According to the data of Rudprom, the Association of Russian Iron Ore Producers, Russian iron ore exports rose 20.5 percent year on year to 8.73 million tons in January-May of 2006. In particular, during the first five months of 2006, Russia exported 5.26 million tons of pellets, up 35.5 percent, 232,000 tons of sintering ore, down 17.1 percent, 511,000 tons of briquettes, up 44.8 percent and 2.73 million tons of concentrate, similar volume compare to January-May of 2005. During the given period, the Russian export of iron ore beyond the CIS was equal to 7.69 million tons and accounted for 88.1 percent of the total Russian export of iron ore. During January-May of 2006, Russian export of iron ore to Ukraine amounted to 1.04 million tons, including 232,000 tons of sintering ore, 523,000 tons of concentrate and 284,000 tons of briquettes. On the other hand, Ukrainian iron ore export rose 28.2 percent year on year to 8.6 million tons in January-May of 2006. In particular, in January-May of 2006, Ukraine exported 3.58 million tons of pellets, up 11.7 percent, 1.43 million tons of concentrate, up 84 percent, and 2.98 million tons of sintering ore, up 33 percent compare to January-May of 2005.