Russia’s stainless steel imports up 12.3 percent in Q1

According to an assessment made by the Russia-based SpetsStal Association, Russian imports of stainless steel products in the first quarter of the year increased by 12.3 percent compared to the same period of last year to 57,322 mt. In particular, in the first quarter this year Russia's imports of long steel went up by 8.2 percent, flat steel imports rose by 17.1 percent, imports of ERW pipes increased by 17.4 percent, and billet imports rose by 47.4 percent, all year on year. At the same time, imports of seamless pipes declined by 29.4 percent, while wire imports decreased by 33.8 percent, both compared to the first quarter last year.