This year Russian pipe producers can expect the easing of competition from imports and from the major suppliers - China and Ukraine, Russia's Metal Supply and Sales magazine has reported. An anti dumping investigation has started against Chinese pipe producers, while Ukrainian imports fell sharply last year, largely due to the introduction of trade restrictions, and, apparently, will decrease in the coming months and later under the influence of the political factors.
At the same time, Russian pipe manufacturers in the next couple of years will face with a very stiff competition in the domestic market due to large-scale commissioning of new capacities, outpacing growth in demand. However, domestic consumption is expected to increase by at least 4-5 percent per year.