Russian imports of flat stainless steel products in November last year decreased by 16.2 percent month on month to 15,915 mt, including 10,687 mt of cold rolled stainless steel, down 28.3 percent month on month, and 5,228 mt of hot rolled stainless steel, up 30.2 percent compared to the previous month, according to Russia-based SpetsStal Association.
According to SpetsStal Association, the increase in hot rolled stainless steel imports was caused by the decreasing production of hot rolled stainless steel by Russian mining and steel group Mechel‘s subsidiary Chelyabinsk steel mill. In 2015, Chelyabinsk steel mill produced 7,300 mt of hot rolled stainless steel products, down by 40 percent year on year. SpetsStal stated that production volumes were not enough to cover local needs and customers from different consumption industries sought to buy stainless steel from foreign suppliers.