2012-09-07 16:02:30 - Fast Market Research recommends "Russia Metals Report Q3 2012" from Business Monitor International, now available

BMI's Russia Metals Report for Q3 2012 analyses the possibility that Russia's metals sector will face slow growth in 2012 due to the eurozone crisis dragging on and metals prices weakening. We expect production of key metals to remain modest with company investment plans focusing on improving processing plant efficiency and reducing costs rather than building new plants or expanding production capacity. Despite the weak growth, Russia will remain one of the world's largest producers of key base and industrial metals such as nickel, steel and aluminium.

Russian steel production will rise 3.3% in 2012 according to BMI's forecasts, with the sector weighed down by falling steel prices and global oversupply in the steel market. With sector participants operating at relatively

high capacity utilisation, we expect the key driver of this growth will be improvements to efficiency rather than expansions or building new processing plants. Similarly, global demand growth is expected to slow as construction activity in China declines and the eurozone economies remain extremely weak.


Full Report Details at
- www.fastmr.com/prod/456372_russia_metals_report_q3_2012.aspx


Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) is planning US$1.7bn in capital expenditure in 2012 in its drive towards increasing production capacity to over 15million tonnes per annum (mn tpa) from 12mn tpa in 2011 with a target of 17.5mn tpa by 2014. Meanwhile, Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) plans to increase crude steel production by 60% between 2010 and 2017 to 18.5mn tonnes (mnt). In 2012, it plans to increase its crude steel output by 7-10%, producing 14.3mnt, compared with a target of 13mnt for 2011. That said, we recognise the potential for these expansion projects to be delayed or idled as companies wait for more favourable economic conditions.

BMI forecasts nickel production to rise by an average of 1.1% a year between 2012 and 2016 as the major Russian producer Norilsk Nickel invests in operational improvements. Russia is one of the world's largest nickel producers and exports primarily to European countries. We expect the global nickel market to remain oversupplied in the coming years as global demand for stainless steel moderates. Falling costs and the substitution of nickel pig iron are key factors in determining global nickel prices and consumption patterns.

Oligopolies To Remain In Place

Russian metals output is heavily consolidated within each metal produced, as restrictive foreign ownership rights and established oligopolies prevent foreign competition. Within nickel production, Norilsk Nickel is the primary producer and also a major mining company. Its vertical integration across mining and refining capacity will allow it to remain the largest nickel producer in Russia for the foreseeable future. Similarly, steel and aluminium production are consolidated among just a few producers. We do not expect the metals sector to diversify significantly over our forecast period.

Relying On Europe For Export Dependence

Russia's metals sector is dependent on exports for the consumption of its metals products given Russia's relatively small domestic metals needs. Therefore the fate of the sector rests on the primary consuming regions to which Russia exports metals. While at first glance it may seem that China is the primary destination for Russian metals, in fact Europe consumes the vast majority of Russian steel, aluminium, nickel and other metals. This dependence on Europe poses significant risks to the sector given the unfavourable outlook for the eurozone crisis and likelihood of extended economic weakness for years to come in the region. This is one of the key factors underpinning our modest growth forecasts for Russia's metals sector, given the weak outlook for demand.

Report Table of Contents:

SWOT Analysis
- Russia Business Environment SWOT
Europe Metals Overview
Industry Forecast
- Aluminium: Global Oversupply Caps Output Growth
- Table: Russia's Primary Aluminium Production & Consumption ('000 tonnes)
- Steel: Consumption In Infrastructure To Drive Sector
- Table: Russia's Steel Production
- Nickel: Minimal Growth On European Economic Weakness
- Table: Russia Nickel Production
- Macroeconomic Forecast
- Reform Agenda Key For Stable Growth Outlook
- Table: Russia's Economic Activity
Commodities Forecast
- Steel To Average US$500/tonne In 2012
- Table: BMI Steel Forecasts
- Table: Steel Price Data (US$/tonne)
- Commodity Strategy - Monthly Metals Update
- Steel Prices Have Topped Out
- Copper: Relative Outperformer But Still Weak
- Tin To Outperform
- Aluminium: Substantial Support Around US$1,900/tonne
- Nickel: Oversupply Pushing Prices Lower
- Break Of Support On The Cards For Lead
- Zinc: Downward Trend Continues
- Table: Selected Commodities Performance & BMI Forecasts
Competitive Landscape
- Table: Crude Steel And Rolled Steel Products Output In Russia, 2010 (mnt)
- Table: Russian Steel Producers' Outpu (mnt)
Company Profiles
- Norilsk Nickel
- Financial Data
- Table: Norilsk Nickel
- RUSAL
- Financial Data
- Table: UC Rusal's Financial Data
- Severstal
- Financial Data
- Table: Severstal's Financial Data
BMI Methodology
- How We Generate Our Industry Forecasts
- Cross Checks

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