According to the data released by the Russian Federation's Federal Customs Service, in the first five months of 2009 Russia exported 11.022 million metric tons of ferrous metals (excluding pig iron, ferroalloys and scrap) - down 12.4 percent, 1.430 million metric tons of pig iron - down 23.8 percent, 279,300 metric tons of ferroalloys - down 11.6 percent, 5.557 million metric tons of semi-finished steel products - down 21.8 percent, 6.727 million metric tons of iron ore and concentrate - down 27 percent, and 752,600 metric tons of coke and semi-coke - down 38.2 percent, all compared to the corresponding period of 2008. On the other hand, in January-May, Russia registered a four percent increase year on year in its flat rolled product exports to 3.642 million metric tons.
During the period in question, Russia decreased its ferrous metal imports (excluding pig iron, ferroalloys and scrap) by 45.6 percent and its steel pipe imports by 49 percent year on year, to 1.027 million metric tons and 226,800 metric tons respectively.