Russkaya Stal (Russian Steel), a non-profit association of Russian domestic steelmakers, has reported that its main member enterprises produced 4.44 million metric tons of finished steel in June this year, down 3.6 percent from May and decreasing by 1.4 percent compared to June last year. Finished steel production of the member enterprises came to 27.17 million mt in the January-June period this year, down 2.6 percent compared to the same period of last year.
Finished steel shipments of Russian Steel member companies to domestic end-users in June were down by 1.7 percent month on month to 2.7 million mt, while year-on-year figures indicated a 4.6 percent increase. In the first six months of this year, Russian Steel companies shipped 15.79 million mt of finished steel to the local market, up 1.4 percent year on year.
Members of Russian Steel exported 1.74 million mt of finished steel in June, down 6.5 percent compared to May and decreasing by 10 percent compared to June last year. In the January-June period, export shipments amounted to 11.39 million mt, down 7.6 percent year on year.
Members of Russian Steel account for 96 percent of the pig iron produced in Russia as well as 90 percent of domestic crude and finished steel production.