According to the Russian Special Steel and Alloys Consumers and Suppliers Association (Spetsstal), Russia has continued to see its imports of stainless steel pipes increase despite the special import duty it imposed in September 2009.
In August this year, Russia's imports of electric welded stainless steel pipes increased by 23.1 percent to 1,738 mt, and imports of stainless steel seamless pipes went up by 14.1 percent to 2,099 mt, both compared to July.
In late September 2009, the Russian government imposed a 28.1 percent special duty on imports of stainless steel tubes and pipes for a period of three years. This significant increase in costs for stainless steel pipe imports was intended to favor the growth of domestic production and reduce the share of imported goods in total consumption.
According to Spetsstal's data, in H1 2010 Russia's stainless steel pipes output saw a 29.9 percent increase year on year in the electric welded pipe segment and a 13 percent year on year growth in the seamless pipe segment. At the same time, imports of stainless steel electric welded pipes went up in H1 2010 by only 2.5 percent year on year, while imports of stainless steel seamless pipes increased by 75 percent year on year.