Russian pig iron exports declined at the beginning of the year

According to government statistics, Russia's pig iron exports during the first month of the year decreased compared with the previous month and with exports for the same month a year earlier. In January, Russian exports of pig iron totaled 249,836 tons. Total exports were down 7.9 percent from the previous year and 26.5 percent from a month earlier. Pig iron exports in the country throughout 2015 are estimated at 3 million tons.

The largest importer of Russian pig iron during January was the United States with 180,534 tonnes. Exports to the United States rose sharply by 134 percent from 77,151 tonnes in the same month in 2014. Exports to the United States accounted for 72.3 percent of Russia's total pig iron exports during the month.

Italy became the second largest importer. However, imports to Italy decreased by 16.6 percent compared to the previous year and totaled 24,290 tons. Turkey came in third with 11,920 tons. Other key destinations for Russian pig iron exports were Germany with 11,591 tonnes, down 17.6 percent yoy, Poland with 8,496 tonnes, down 61.5 percent, and Belarus with 5,168 tonnes, down 44.5 percent yoy. level.

At the same time, the export of pig iron to the United States decreased slightly, by almost 5 percent, compared with the previous month, when it amounted to a total of 189,407 tons. The drop in exports to Italy reached 30 percent compared to the previous month. Exports to Turkey almost halved compared to the previous month, when Russian pig iron exports to Italy and Turkey totaled 34,733 tons and 23,482 tons, respectively.