Stainless steel production in Russia responds to domestic demand

According to the statistics of the Association Spetsstal, the production of stainless steel in Russia in January-October 2014 amounted to 103,200 tons, which is 19.8 percent lower compared to the same period last year.

From January to October 2014, the production of stainless flat steel in Russia decreased by 37.3 percent, the production of wire rod, billets and reinforcement made of stainless steel fell by 18.7 percent, 77.3 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively, compared with the production of the past. of the year. Meanwhile, in Russia, the output of stainless steel seamless and welded pipes increased by 4.6 percent and 20.2 percent, respectively, compared with ten months of last year. Sales of stainless pipes at retail slightly increased, however, compared to black rolled products, they are not yet able to compete.

The production of stainless steel in Russia is responding to a decrease in domestic demand, which is the reason for the decrease in the output of certain types of stainless products, which are focused on the domestic machine building of the energy, nuclear and general sectors. Export supplies are rather small and are intended, for the most part, for the CIS countries.

Russian imports of stainless steel products in October totaled 23,700 tons, an increase of 9.7 percent year on year. During this period, imports of long steel products decreased by 17.1 percent; imports of flat products increased by 17.5 percent, while electric-welded pipes were down 28 percent, all compared to the same period a year earlier.

At the same time, the country's imports of seamless steel pipes increased by 21.6 percent. Wire rod imports increased by 28.4 percent compared to the corresponding period last year.