Russia issues January-September 2008 import and export data

According to the data released by the Russian Federation's Federal Customs Service, in the first nine months of 2008 Russia exported 21.537 million metric tons of ferrous metals (excluding pig iron, ferroalloys and scrap) - up 6.5 percent, 4.229 million metric tons of pig iron - up 5.9 percent, 577,400 metric tons of ferroalloys - down 0.3 percent, 12.528 million metric tons of semi-finished steel products - up 15.1 percent, 5.671 million metric tons of flat rolled products - down 3.7 percent, 17.06 million metric tons of iron ore and concentrate - down 3.3 percent, and 2.596 million metric tons of coke and semi-coke - up 2.6 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 19.4 percent and its steel pipe imports by 35.4 percent year on year, to 3.900 million metric tons and 775,000 metric tons respectively.