Russia issues Jan-August 2008 import and export data

According to the data released by the Russian Federation's Federal Customs Service, in the first eight months of 2008 Russia exported 19.502 million metric tons of ferrous metals (excluding pig iron, ferroalloys and scrap) - up 6.7 percent, 3.391 million metric tons of pig iron - down 6.3 percent, 516,000 metric tons of ferroalloys - up 5.1 percent, 11.285 million metric tons of semi-finished steel products - up 14 percent, 5.190 million metric tons of flat rolled products - down one percent, 15.226 million metric tons of iron ore and concentrate - up 1.8 percent, and 2.271 million metric tons of coke and semi-coke - up one percent, all compared to the corresponding period of 2007.
 
During the period in question, Russia decreased its ferrous metal imports (excluding pig iron, ferroalloys and scrap) by 21 percent and its steel pipe imports by 38.2 percent year on year, to 3.399 million metric tons and 679,700 metric tons respectively.