Russian steel producers cut railway exports 6% in March

MOSCOW. April 2 (Interfax) - Russian manufacturers of steel and pipe products cut exports 6% month-on-month to 1.82 million tonnes of metal via the Russian Railways network in March from 1.94 million tonnes in February, a source familiar with the activities of Russian Railways told Interfax.

Steel and pipe product producers increased exports of metal in the direction of Europe through the PJSC Russian Railways network 4% month-on-month to 525,000 tonnes in March from 504,000 tonnes in February, with the figure rising 11% month-on-month to 246,000 tonnes from 222,000 tonnes, respectively, excluding Turkey. Russian steel exports to Turkey declined to 279,000 tonnes in March from 283,000 tonnes in February.

Manufacturers slashed shipments to China and Taiwan 27% month-on-month to 156,000 tonnes in March from 213,000 tonnes in February.

Producers raised metal exports to Mexico via the Russian Railways network to 453,000 tonnes in March from 450,000 tonnes in February.

Manufacturers trimmed metal shipments to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries 2% month-on-month to 547,000 tonnes in March from 559,000 tonnes in February.

Metal shipments to Asia-Pacific countries, excluding China and Taiwan, dropped to 25,000 tonnes last month from 50,000 tonnes a month earlier, and exports to the Middle East and Africa fell to 110,000 tonnes in March from 155,000 tonnes in February.

Russian exports of iron ore and concentrate rose to 1.1 million tonnes in March from 1.04 million tonnes in February, with the main volume traditionally shipped to China at 820,000 tonnes in March versus 879,000 tonnes in February.