Russia increases finished steel output
Russia's finished steel
production through the first three months of 2005 rose 6.3% year on year to 13.8 million metric tons.
Steel
pipe production dropped off 2.9% to 1.5 million metric tons. On the other hand,
iron ore output added 1.3% to hit 23.7 million metric tons.
Russia was unable to turn its expanded coal
production (up 2% to 75.4 million metric ton) into similar growth in its coke output.
Russia's coke
production fell 3.6% to 8.1 million metric tons.