In January-August this year, Ukraine increased its exports of steel pipes to Russia by 50 percent year on year to 350,100 mt, including 176,800 mt of seamless pipes - up 40 percent, 92,600 mt of welded large diameter (LD) pipes - up 12 times, and 80,700 mt of welded medium and small diameter pipes - down 18.6 percent, all compared to January-August 2009.
Meanwhile, in August this year Ukraine's exports of steel pipes to Russia went up by 49.6 percent compared to July to 69,700 mt, mainly due to a 341 percent month-on-month increase in exports of welded LD pipes, which amounted to 34,000 mt. The main Ukrainian suppliers of LD pipes to Russia in August were Metinvest's Khartsyzsk Pipe Works (31,200 mt - up 467 percent month on month) and Interpipe (2,800 mt - up 27 percent month on month).