Bloomberg quoted the Economy Ministry said Russia output of ferrous metals and products increased in the January through July period compared with a year earlier.

The ministry said cast iron production rose 7.3% to 29.6 million tonnes, steel output added 4.5% to 41.6 million tons, and rolled steel increased 5.9% to 36.4 million tons in the first seven months of the year compared with 2011.

Rolled steel exports rose 11% to 14 million tons in the period, it said.

Production of steel pipes dropped 11% to 5.47 million tons because of reduced oil and gas industry demand, the ministry said. Pipe shipments rose 24% to 786,400 tons with Kazakhstan the biggest buyer of about 29% of it.

Source - Bloomberg

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