While sanctions bit into its output last year, Russia's metals industry remains a production and export behemoth, with staggering figures from 71.5 million tons of crude steel and 340 tons of gold to its control of key global supplies like palladium and nickel.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Russia's crude steel production reached 71.5 million metric tons, marking a 1.2% decline from 2021 due to sanctions impacts.
- Aluminum production in Russia totaled 3.8 million metric tons in 2023, with Rusal accounting for 90% of output.
- Norilsk Nickel's palladium production was 2.89 million ounces in 2022, down 4% YoY.
- In 2022, Russia exported 28.4 million tons of steel products, valued at $22.5 billion.
- Aluminum exports from Russia reached 5.6 million tons in 2023, mainly to China.
- Norilsk Nickel exported 1.2 million tons of nickel and copper products in 2022.
- In 2022, NLMK's revenue from steel sales was $15.2 billion.
- Norilsk Nickel's EBITDA reached $12.1 billion in 2023 despite sanctions.
- Rusal net profit surged to $1.8 billion in 2022.
- Average steel price in Russia: $750/ton HRC in Q4 2023.
- Nickel LME price impact from Russia ban: +20% spike in March 2022.
- Aluminum prices averaged $2,700/ton in 2023 for Russian exports.
- Russia proven nickel reserves: 7.8 million tons as of 2023.
- Bauxite reserves in Russia: 200 million tons recoverable.
- Gold reserves: 12,400 tons (2nd globally) in 2023.
Sanctions altered but didn't stop Russia's massive and diverse metals industry.
Company Performance
- In 2022, NLMK's revenue from steel sales was $15.2 billion.
- Norilsk Nickel's EBITDA reached $12.1 billion in 2023 despite sanctions.
- Rusal net profit surged to $1.8 billion in 2022.
- Severstal's steel production capacity utilization: 92% in 2023.
- UC Rusal's aluminum smelting costs averaged $1,800 per ton in 2022.
- Norilsk Nickel capex investment: $2.9 billion in 2023 for modernization.
- Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK) revenue: $10.5 billion in 2022.
- EVRAZ Group's EBITDA: $4.2 billion in 2023.
- Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) debt reduced to $3.1 billion by end-2022.
- United Company RUSAL market cap: approximately $6.5 billion in 2023.
- Norilsk Nickel's dividend payout: $2.2 per GDR in 2022.
- Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant output value: $2.8 billion in 2023.
- Polymetal International gold revenue: $3.1 billion in 2022.
- Mechel steel segment EBITDA: $1.2 billion in 2023.
- Highveld Steel & Vanadium (subsidiary) losses mitigated in 2022.
- Rusal's smelter energy costs: 25% of total production costs in 2023.
- Nornickel's Polar Division division profit: $8.5 billion in 2022.
- Severstal's EBITDA margin: 28% in 2023.
- MMK's capex: $1.1 billion invested in 2022 upgrades.
- NLMK's production costs per ton steel: $550 in 2023.
- Norilsk Nickel's nickel segment revenue: $7.2 billion in 2022.
- Rusal's alumina refining capacity: 14 million tons annually in 2023.
- EVRAZ NTMK plant capacity: 4.5 million tons steel slabs.
- Polymetal's AISC for gold: $1,250/oz in 2022.
- Mechel's coal-to-metals revenue ratio: 40% metals in 2023.
- United Metallurgical Company (OMK) pipe sales: $4.8 billion 2022.
- Kemerovo Coke's ferroalloys revenue growth: 15% YoY 2023.
Company Performance Interpretation
Russia's metals sector, a titan shrugging off sanctions with staggering profits and relentless modernization, reveals an industry strategically fortified yet fundamentally chained to energy costs and global commodity cycles.
Export Import Figures
- In 2022, Russia exported 28.4 million tons of steel products, valued at $22.5 billion.
- Aluminum exports from Russia reached 5.6 million tons in 2023, mainly to China.
- Norilsk Nickel exported 1.2 million tons of nickel and copper products in 2022.
- Russia was the 2nd largest exporter of primary aluminum with 3.9 million tons in 2022.
- Copper exports totaled 650,000 tons in 2023, valued at $5.8 billion.
- Steel pipes exports from Russia: 2.1 million tons in 2022.
- Gold exports reached 310 tons in 2023, worth $18 billion.
- Stainless steel exports: 1.8 million tons in 2022 to EU and Asia.
- Ferroalloys exports amounted to 1.5 million tons in 2023.
- Nickel exports from Russia: 180,000 tons in 2022, down due to sanctions.
- Zinc exports totaled 190,000 tons in 2023.
- Titanium exports: 32,000 tons in 2022.
- Platinum group metals exports: 85 tons in 2023.
- Rolled steel exports: 22.5 million tons in 2022.
- Aluminum semi-products exports: 2.8 million tons in 2023.
- Iron ore exports from Russia: 72 million tons in 2022.
- Scrap metal exports banned, but prior 2021: 4.2 million tons.
- Lead exports: 90,000 tons in 2023.
- Cobalt exports: 1,500 tons in 2022.
- Rare earth exports: 1,900 tons in 2023.
- Steel imports to Russia dropped to 2.5 million tons in 2022 due to sanctions.
- Aluminum imports: 120,000 tons in 2023.
- Machinery imports for metals industry: $3.2 billion in 2022.
- Fertilizer-related metals imports negligible, but alloys: 50,000 tons.
- Palladium imports minimal, net exporter status maintained in 2023.
- Semi-finished steel imports: 1.1 million tons in 2022.
- EVKPU (Norilsk) exports to China: 40% of total in 2023.
- Russia-Turkey steel trade: 3.2 million tons exported in 2022.
- Post-sanctions rerouting: 15% increase to Asia markets in 2023.
- NLMK flat products exports: 12 million tons in 2022.
- Rusal primary aluminum to Asia: 2.1 million tons in 2023.
- Severstal long products exports: 5.8 million tons in 2022.
- MMK steel exports to Middle East: 4.5 million tons 2023.
Export Import Figures Interpretation
While Western sanctions have certainly forced Russia to play a complex game of geopolitical musical chairs with its metals, the music hasn't stopped, as evidenced by its still-massive and rerouted exports of everything from steel and aluminum to the gold financing it.
Market Trends Prices
- Average steel price in Russia: $750/ton HRC in Q4 2023.
- Nickel LME price impact from Russia ban: +20% spike in March 2022.
- Aluminum prices averaged $2,700/ton in 2023 for Russian exports.
- Russian HRC steel export price: $620/ton FOB Black Sea 2023.
- Palladium prices hit $3,000/oz in 2022 due to Norilsk supply fears.
- Copper rod premiums in Russia: $150/ton over LME in 2023.
- Domestic steel rebar price: 55,000 RUB/ton in Moscow Dec 2023.
- Global steel market share Russia: 5.2% in 2022 production.
- Aluminum premium Russia-China: $50/ton discount in 2023.
- Ferrochrome prices: $1.50/lb in Russian markets 2022.
- Zinc ingot domestic price: 280,000 RUB/ton in 2023.
- Titanium sponge market price: $8/kg FOB Russia 2022.
- Gold spot price benefit to Russia: average $1,900/oz in 2023.
- Stainless steel 304 price: $2,200/ton import equivalent 2023.
- Nickel sulphate premium for EV batteries: +$2,000/ton 2022.
- Pig iron export price: $450/ton CFR Turkey 2023.
- Scrap steel HMS 1/2: 35,000 RUB/ton domestic 2022.
- Platinum basket price: $1,050/oz in 2023 Russian production.
- Steel billet Russia export: $510/ton FOB Novorossiysk 2023.
- Alumina spot price: $350/ton CFR Russia 2022.
- Wire rod prices: $650/ton in CIS markets 2023.
- Demand growth for Russian metals in BRICS: 12% YoY 2023.
- Sanctions impact: 30% drop in EU steel imports from Russia 2022.
- EV battery metals demand Russia supply: 15% global nickel 2023.
Market Trends Prices Interpretation
Russia's metals sector is a masterclass in resilience, thriving domestically and within BRICS markets despite sanctions—which have merely reshuffled global price tags and trade flows without denting its core industrial might.
Production Volumes
- In 2022, Russia's crude steel production reached 71.5 million metric tons, marking a 1.2% decline from 2021 due to sanctions impacts.
- Aluminum production in Russia totaled 3.8 million metric tons in 2023, with Rusal accounting for 90% of output.
- Norilsk Nickel's palladium production was 2.89 million ounces in 2022, down 4% YoY.
- Russia's primary aluminum smelters produced 3.61 million tons in 2022.
- Copper cathode production in Russia hit 890,000 tons in 2023.
- Ferrous metals production (pig iron) was 64.2 million tons in 2022.
- Gold output from Russian metallurgical plants reached 340 tons in 2023.
- Stainless steel production in Russia amounted to 2.1 million tons in 2022.
- Russia's titanium sponge production was 38,500 tons in 2023.
- Zinc production totaled 220,000 tons in Russia for 2022.
- Lead output from Russian smelters was 105,000 metric tons in 2023.
- Platinum production in Russia reached 25 tons in 2022, mainly from Norilsk.
- Ferroalloys production hit 1.8 million tons in 2023.
- Rolled steel products production was 52.3 million tons in 2022.
- Nickel matte production by Norilsk Nickel was 226,000 tons in 2023.
- Bauxite mining for aluminum reached 7.2 million tons in Russia 2022.
- Semi-fabricated aluminum products output was 4.2 million tons in 2023.
- Crude steel semi-finished products: 28.4 million tons produced in 2022.
- Long steel products production totaled 24.1 million tons in 2023.
- Flat steel products output reached 28.2 million tons in 2022.
- Magnesium production in Russia was 45,000 tons in 2023.
- Cobalt output from Russian refineries: 1,800 tons in 2022.
- Rare earth elements concentrate production: 2,700 tons in 2023.
- Silicon metal production totaled 180,000 tons in Russia 2022.
- Vanadium pentoxide output: 12,000 tons in 2023.
- Molybdenum production reached 3,500 tons in 2022.
- Tungsten concentrate output: 2,800 tons in Russia 2023.
- Antimony production totaled 1,200 tons in 2022.
- Bismuth output from Russian smelters: 450 tons in 2023.
- Cadmium production was 1,100 tons in Russia 2022.
Production Volumes Interpretation
Even under the heavy weight of sanctions, Russia's metals industry persists as a titan of raw materials, churning out colossal tonnages of steel and critical minerals while its strategic sectors like aluminum and palladium remain tightly held in the grip of corporate giants like Rusal and Norilsk Nickel.
Reserves Mining
- Russia proven nickel reserves: 7.8 million tons as of 2023.
- Bauxite reserves in Russia: 200 million tons recoverable.
- Gold reserves: 12,400 tons (2nd globally) in 2023.
- Copper reserves: 30 million tons in Russian deposits.
- Iron ore reserves: 25 billion tons (world's 5th largest).
- Aluminum (bauxite equivalent) reserves: 500 million tons.
- Palladium reserves: 1,500 tons primarily Norilsk-Talnakh.
- Platinum reserves: 600 tons in Russia.
- Zinc reserves: 14 million tons as per USGS 2023.
- Lead reserves: 5.5 million tons.
- Titanium (ilmenite) reserves: 160 million tons.
- Cobalt reserves: 250,000 tons associated with nickel.
- Rare earth oxides reserves: 12 million tons.
- Molybdenum reserves: 450,000 tons.
- Vanadium reserves: 2.5 million tons in titanomagnetite ores.
- Tungsten reserves: 200,000 tons.
- Antimony reserves: 350,000 tons (top 5 global).
- Nickel mining output from open pits: 60% of total in 2023.
- Talnakh deposit PGM resources: 1,800 tons inferred.
- Kursk Magnetic Anomaly iron ore: 40 billion tons total.
- Timan Bauxite deposit: 100 million tons reserves.
- Sukhoi Log gold deposit: 40 million oz resources.
- Udokan copper deposit: 13 million tons copper resources.
- Norilsk-1 nickel-copper-PGE: 400,000 tons Ni equivalent.
- Mining employment in metals sector: 450,000 direct jobs 2023.
- Annual exploration spend by Russian miners: $1.2 billion 2022.
- Underground mining ratio for nickel: 70% in Norilsk 2023.
Reserves Mining Interpretation
Russia's vast mineral wealth is a geopolitical hand so full of aces – from palladium kings to iron ore titans and golden wildcards – that playing it wisely would require a master strategist, not just a lucky miner.
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