Russia to increase crude steel production in 2012

In the current year, Russian companies will increase crude steel production by two to three percent year on year, as reported by Russian news and information agency RIA Novosti. Production of aluminium is estimated to rise by two percent year on year, at best, while Russia's steel pipe output will likely stay at the level of the last year, i.e., at about 10 million mt. Production of copper and nickel in Russia in 2012 is also scheduled to remain at the levels of 2011.