Russia raises iron ore exports in January-July

According to statistical data released by the Association of Iron Ore Producers of Russia (Rudprom), the country raised the amount of iron ore exports 16.5 percent year on year to 12.96 million metric tons in January-July of 2006. In particular, during the given period, Russia exported 4.33 million metric tons of concentrate, up 12.1 percent, 7.66 million metric tons of pellets, up 22 percent, 310,000 metric tons of sintering ore, down 29.1 percent, 657,000 metric tons of briquettes, up 20.6 percent compared to the same period of last year. In the first seven months of 2006, the exports of iron ore to countries beyond CIS amounted to 11.47 million metric tons, including 3.63 million metric tons of concentrate, 7.58 million metric tons of pellets and 260,000 metric tons of briquettes. During the subject period, 1.4 million metric tons of iron ore, including 310,000 metric tons of sintering ore, 704,000 metric tons of concentrate and 332,000 metric tons of briquettes was exported to Ukraine.