Russkaya Stal (Russian Steel), a non-profit association of Russian domestic steelmakers, has reported that its main member enterprises produced 4.6 million metric tons of finished steel in May this year, up 1.5 percent from April and decreasing by three percent compared to May last year. Finished steel production of the member enterprises came to 22.72 million mt in the January-May period this year, down 2.9 percent compared to the same period of last year.
Finished steel shipments of Russian Steel member companies to domestic end-users in May were down by 4.9 percent month on month to 2.73 million mt, while year-on-year figures indicated a 4.5 percent increase. In the first five months of this year, Russian Steel companies shipped 13.08 million mt of finished steel to the local market, up 0.6 percent year on year.Members of Russian Steel exported 1.86 million mt of finished steel in May, up 12.7 percent compared to April and down 12.5 percent compared to May last year. In the January-May period, export shipments amounted to 9.64 million mt, down 7.4 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.