According to Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade, for the first half of the current year Russia's domestic consumption of rolled steel products is estimated at 14 million mt, showing an increase of 29.6 percent compared with the first half of 2009. Deliveries of Russian origin rolled steel products to the domestic market increased by 15.9 percent, while imports went up by 45.5 percent, both compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, the country's domestic consumption of steel pipes in January-June this year is estimated at 4.4 million mt - up 55.6 percent year on year. In the period in question, deliveries to the domestic market of Russian origin pipes increased by 64.3 percent year on year, while imports decreased by 40.6 percent, both compared to H1 2009.