Russia Jan-Jul 2009 aluminium, nickel exports fall

MOSCOW, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Russian aluminium and nickel exports fell in the first seven months of 2009 from year-ago levels due to weak demand caused by the global financial crisis, while copper exports rose, customs data showed on Tuesday. The government in February lifted a 5 percent export tariff on copper cathodes and nickel in an attempt to help Russia's largest producer, Norilsk Nickel, and other producers of the two metals. Russia expects shortly to restore the nickel export tariff at a base rate of 5 percent, which will rise in line with international nickel prices. Aluminium exports outside the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) totalled 2.03 million tonnes in January-July, down 3.2 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 36.1 percent to $2.98 billion. Nickel exports to non-CIS countries fell 4.7 percent to 133,600 tonnes in the first seven months of 2009, while their value fell 53.0 percent. Refined copper export volumes to non-CIS countries more than doubled to 262,200 tonnes and their value rose by 39.6 percent. The Federal Customs Service gave the following data for Russian aluminium, nickel and copper exports in January-July: 2009 2008 Tonnes $ mln Tonnes $ mln Aluminium Total 2,048,500 2,995.4 2,117,200 4,697.3 Non-CIS** 2,034,800 2,975.6 2,101,300 4,658.9 CIS 13,700 19.8 15,900 38.3 Nickel Total 133,800 1,615.5 140,700 3,445.7 Non-CIS 133,600 1,612.6 140,200 3,431.2 CIS 200 2.9 400 14.5 Copper Total 263,100 1,030.4 99,100 746.7 Non-CIS 262,200 1,027.1 97,400 735.6 CIS 900 3.3 1,600 11.1 FCS data does not include all trade with Belarus ** CIS - Commonwealth of Independent States includes 11 republics of the former Soviet Union. (Reporting by Robin Paxton, editing by Anthony Barker) Keywords: METALS RUSSIA/EXPORTS (robin.paxton@reuters.com; +7 495 775 1242; Reuters Messaging: robin.paxton.reuters.com@reuters.net)