According to the information issued by the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy, as of December 31, 2009, Russia and other countries utilized 80.7 percent of the annual quota imposed by Ukraine for seamless casing and tubing imports with outside diameter up to 406.4 mm, supplying a total of 12,291 metric tons. The data indicate that in December 2009 Ukraine did not import any seamless casing and tubing.
The new quota for the period starting from October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010 stands at 15,230 mt of seamless casing and tubing imports - up 726 mt compared to the previous annual quota.
In particular, Russia utilized 100 percent of its quota, having received licenses to export 10,827 mt of seamless casing and tubing to Ukraine, Romania utilized 71.84 percent of its quota, i.e., 137 mt of the licensed 190 mt, Poland utilized 31.8 percent of its new quota, i.e., 319 mt of a licensed 1,003 mt, Austria used 13.3 percent of its quota, i.e., 297 mt of an allowed 2,231 mt, while other countries utilized 99.88 percent of their quotas, i.e., 712 mt of a licensed 713 mt of seamless casing and tubing.
Meanwhile, Slovakia, India and China, having received licenses to export 156 mt, 66 mt and 44 mt respectively to Ukraine, have not yet started to use their quotas.