Russia ups ferrous metal exports
Russia's ferrous metal exports rose 54 percent year on year to $12 billion in the first half of 2005, preliminary data from Russia's Industry and Energy Ministry suggests. During the first six months of the year, Russia exported $460 million worth of iron ore indicating a 130 percent year-on-year rise in terms of value. The overall volume of exported iron ore increased 11 percent during the same period. Furthermore, ferroalloy exports rose 35 percent, semi-finished steel products 22 percent and flat rolled 16 percent. Non-ferrous metal exports increased 22 percent to $7 billion.