According to the Russian Special Steel and Alloys Consumers and Suppliers Association (Spetsstal), in the January-March period of this year Russia's stainless steel product output increased by 18 percent year on year to 37,640 mt.
Of Russian stainless product output for the given period, long steel production increased by six percent, wire output rose by 8.8 percent, flat steel output increased by 16.5 percent, seamless pipe production went up by 8.6 percent, and ERW pipe output rose by 9.5 percent, all on year-on-year basis.
SpetsStal noted that, despite improved production results, end users' business activity is slowing down, leading to rising inventories.