According to the data released by the Russian Federation's Federal Customs Service, in the first half of 2009 Russia exported 13.757 million metric tons of ferrous metals (excluding pig iron, ferroalloys and scrap) - down nine percent, 2.089 million metric tons of pig iron - down 26 percent, 331,300 metric tons of ferroalloys - down 13.3 percent, 6.936 million metric tons of semi-finished steel products - down 19.6 percent, 8.292 million metric tons of iron ore and concentrate - down 26 percent, and 876,500 metric tons of coke and semi-coke - down 39 percent, all compared to the corresponding period of 2008. On the other hand, in January-June, Russia registered an 8.5 percent increase year on year in its flat rolled product exports to 4.506 million metric tons.
During the period in question, Russia decreased its ferrous metal imports (excluding pig iron, ferroalloys and scrap) by 45.4 percent and its steel pipe imports by 49 percent year on year, to 1.298 million metric tons and 269,100 metric tons respectively.