In January-September this year, Russian ferrous metallurgy enterprises reduced steel production by 6% compared to the same period last year, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Viktor Evtukhov said.
The decrease in pig iron production amounted to 2 .9%, long products - 2.5%. At the same time, the output of pipe products increased by 17.7% due to large-diameter pipes for main pipeline projects of PJSC Gazprom and programs for gasification of Russian regions, the Deputy Minister noted.
“It is necessary to note the growth that began in the third quarter demand in the domestic market. According to the results of nine months, the consumption of hot-rolled steel in the domestic market increased by one and a half million tons, the consumption of long products increased by almost a million tons,” Yevtukhov said.
According to data published by the World Steel Association (WSA ), for the nine months of this year, the demand for steel from the Russian Federation, the CIS countries and Ukraine sank by almost 19%.
