26 Apr 2011 15:26

Russia ups steel pipe output 20% in Q1 - ministry

MOSCOW. April 26 (Interfax) - Russia boosted steel pipe production 20% year-on-year in Q1 2011 to 2.56 million tonnes, the Economic Development Ministry said in materials.

Output of large-diameter pipes grew 19.6% and seamless pipes - 14.1%.

Chelyabinsk Tube Rolling Plant (ChTPZ) raised output 63.8% to 311,800 tonnes, and Pervouralsk New Pipe Plant (PNTZ) raised it 20% to 187,100 tonnes.

Steel pipe imports grew 3.5-fold year-on-year in January-February to 312,700 tonnes, including 179,000 tonnes from Ukraine, up three-fold. The Ukrainian pipes accounted for 9.8% of domestic pipe consumption.

Russian pipe exports grew 21.1% year-on-year in January-February to 151,900 tonnes.