Russia Q1 2009 aluminium, nickel exports down

MOSCOW, May 6 (Reuters) - Russian aluminium and nickel exports fell in the first quarter of this year from year ago levels due to weak demand caused by the global financial crisis, while copper exports rose, customs data showed on Wednesday. The government lifted from February a 5 percent export tariff on copper cathodes and nickel in an attempt to help the major producer Norilsk Nickel and other producers of the two metals hit by the crisis. [ID:nLL7361154] Aluminium exports outside the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) were 840,000 tonnes in January-March, down 18.8 percent year-on-year, the data showed. The data, which does not include all exports via neighbouring Belarus, showed the value of the exported metal fell 30.8 percent to $1.42 billion. Nickel exports to non-CIS countries fell 20.6 percent to 50,900 tonnes in the first three months, while their value fell 68.3 percent. Refined copper export volumes to non-CIS countries rose 112.1 percent to 112,200 tonnes but their value fell by 3 percent. The Federal Customs Service gave the following data for Russian aluminium, nickel and copper exports in January-March: 2009 2008 Tonnes $ mln Tonnes $ mln Aluminium Total 845,600 1,428.3 1,041,000 2,068.9 Non-CIS** 840,000 1,419.6 1,034,400 2,054.1 CIS 5,600 8.7 6,700 14.7 Nickel Total 51,000 530.0 64,300 1,672.6 Non-CIS 50,900 528.6 64,100 1,665.1 CIS 100 1.4 200 7.6 Copper Total 112,500 364.5 53,800 380.4 Non-CIS 112,200 363.5 52,900 374.8 CIS 300 1.0 900 5.7 * FCS data does not include all trade with Belarus ** CIS - Commonwealth of Independent States includes 11 republics of the former Soviet Union.