Russia sells logs at record levels

According to Russian official data, Russia's overseas sales of steel billets in fiscal 2021 increased by 15.3% year on year. Exports were 14.9 million tons compared to 12.9 million tons in the previous fiscal year.

Meanwhile, Russia's steel billet exports in December 2021 increased by 169% month on month to 1.36 million tons, compared to 510,000 tons in November 2021.

Mexico overtook Taiwan with 3.29 million tons, up 108% year-on-year compared to 1.58 million tons in the previous fiscal year, to become Russia's largest billet importer.

Taiwan was second with 2,45 million tons, followed by Belgium with 2.43 million tons and Turkey with 1,65 million tons, respectively.

However, Russian billet exports to Taiwan fell 36% year-on-year, while billet exports to Belgium and Turkey increased by 143% and 75%, respectively.