According to the data released by the Russian Federation's Federal Customs Service, in the first ten months of 2009 Russia exported 22.846 million metric tons of ferrous metals (excluding pig iron, ferroalloys and scrap) - down 2.13 percent, 3.712 million metric tons of pig iron - down 19 percent, 11.540 million metric tons of semi-finished steel products - down 15.6 percent, 15.956 million metric tons of iron ore and concentrate - down 15.6 percent, and 1.487 million metric tons of coke and semi-coke - down 46.2 percent, all compared to the corresponding period of 2008. On the other hand, in the January-October period, Russia registered a 23.4 percent increase year on year in its flat rolled product exports to 7.465 million metric tons, and a three percent rise year on year in its ferroalloy exports to 645,100 metric tons.
In the period in question, Russia decreased its ferrous metal imports (excluding pig iron, ferroalloys and scrap) by 41 percent to 2.539 million mt, and reduced its steel pipe imports by 45.4 percent to 470,900 mt, both compared to January-October 2008.