Import of corrosion-resistant tubes and pipes to Russia worry's national producers

Stainless steel pipes are a very specific products and their market is relatively small compared to other pipe products (specialized pipes, OCTG, LDP, etc.) In addition to the fact that this market is quite small, it is quite expensive because of its nature, production technology and cost of billets. The entire domestic market of stainless steel pipes in Russia in 2013 was estimated at 48 thousand tons, 29 thousand tons (60 %) of which were imported products. Major flows traditionally came from the EU (23%), from the Ukraine (11%) and China (10%).

In 2009, Russia introduced a safeguard measure against stainless steel pipes for the first time. It was 28.1% and acted against all producing countries, which outputted these products, except the developing ones. This measure was in force for about a year, then was revised to 9.9 % or a fixed rate, but not less than $1.5 per ton of products. Later it was replaced by a quota in tons.