Russia ups ferrous metal exports
Russia's Federal Customs Service disclosed that the country's ferrous metal exports to non-CIS countries rose 25.5 percent year on year to $13 billion in January-September 2005 period. Russia's ferroalloy exports to non-CIS countries rose 32.4 percent year on year in volume while exports of semi-finished iron and non-alloyed steel products rose 11.9 percent year on year in volume. On the other hand, pig iron exports fell 2.1 percent year on year. Russia imported 726'500 metric tons of steel pipes for $761.1 million in the first nine months of 2005, including 457'800 mt for $402.6 million from the CIS countries.