In the current year, steel pipe output in Russia is expected to rise by 5.5 percent year on year to 9.6 million mt. It is expected that Russian steel pipe consumption will increase by 15 percent year on year and will reach 11 million mt in 2011. In addition, it is estimated that imports of steel pipes to Russia will increase by 75 percent year on year to 2.5 million mt, mainly consisting of large diameter tubes.
For reference, in January-August this year Russia registered a 21.4 percent year-on-year rise in steel pipe production to 7 million mt.