Russia issues Jan-May 2008 import and export data

According to the data released by the Russian Federation's Federal Customs Service, in the first five months of 2008 Russia exported 12.588 million metric tons of ferrous metals (excluding pig iron, ferroalloys and scrap) - up three percent, 1.878 million metric tons of pig iron - down 14.6 percent, 315,800 metric tons of ferroalloys - down 3.6 percent, 7.103 million metric tons of semi-finished steel products - up 7.6 percent, 3.507 million metric tons of flat rolled products - up 3.1 percent, 9.224 million metric tons of iron ore and concentrate - down 6.4 percent, and 1.219 million metric tons of coke and semi-coke - down 1.7 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 21.3 percent and its steel pipe imports by 30 percent year on year, to 1.889 million metric tons and 445,200 metric tons respectively.