Non-ferrous metals (Russian market)

Main article: Metallurgy in Russia

Non-ferrous metals: copper, aluminum, tin, nickel, zinc.

Copper producers

Main article: Copper mining and production

For 2022, the main copper producers in Russia are:

• Norilsk Nickel,
• UMMC,
• Russian Copper Company.

All three companies, as well as world leaders, adhere to a strategy of vertical integration, that is, they control the entire supply chain from ore mining to the production of intermediate copper products (such as copper rod).

2024: Mishustin allocated 4 billion rubles for the extraction and processing of non-ferrous metals in Tuva

In September 2024, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed an order to allocate ₽4 billion for the implementation of projects for the extraction and processing of non-ferrous metals in Tuva. The funds are aimed at creating energy infrastructure, including the construction of overhead power lines for the mining and processing plant at the Ak-Sugsky copper-porphyry field, which a private investor plans to build. Funding was provided under the state program "Development of industry and increasing its competitiveness." Read more here

2023: Russia accounts for 10% of the world's lithium reserves

Accounting for Russia 10% of the world's lithium reserves. Such data are given in the report " Roscongressa The remaining charge: will the new economy have enough lithium," which is referred to on September 4, 2023. " RIA Novosti More. here

2022: Decline in zinc production by 6.9% to 182,000 tonnes

In 2022, 182 thousand tons of zinc were produced in Russia, which is 6.9% less than a year earlier. Compared to 2018, the market volume decreased by 29%. This is evidenced by the data of BusinesStat analysts released in May 2023.

The main reason for the decline in 2022 was the closure of the Electrozinc plant in Vladikavkaz. A fire in one of the workshops of the enterprise, which occurred at the end of 2018, led first to conservation, and then to the complete closure of the plant. Currently, the only zinc producer from zinc concentrate is Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant, whose production capacity is 200-210 thousand tons per year.

182 thousand tons of zinc were produced in Russia

The main volume of zinc consumption in Russia falls on the production of galvanized steel products and hot galvanizing of metal structures. Zinc is also used in the chemical industry, non-ferrous metal processing and other industries. In 2022, there was a decrease in demand from metallurgical enterprises producing galvanized steel.

As noted in the study, Severstal and Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works experienced a decrease in sales of galvanized steel in 2022. According to the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant, sales of galvanized steel remained at the level of 2021. The companies faced export restrictions from the EU countries and Britain, with the strengthening of the ruble and an increase in the cost of logistics, as well as a decrease in demand from domestic consumers due to the crisis in the automotive industry.

According to BusinesStat estimates, in 2022, as a result of the action of the described factors, zinc consumption in Russia decreased by 3.4%. A more serious drop in consumption was avoided due to an increase in demand from the construction industry, the researchers note.^[1]

2015: Non-ferrous metals scrap market in Russia grew by 18.4%

The volume of the non-ferrous metal scrap market in Russia in 2015 amounted to 3,122 thousand tons in physical terms, which is 18.4% more than in 2014. The main share in the non-ferrous metal scrap market is domestic production.

In 2015, 3,119 thousand tons of colored scrap were formed, which is 18% more than in 2014. The largest share in the volume of non-ferrous scrap in 2015 is occupied by waste and scrap of copper metals - 44%.

In 2015, the Ural Federal District is the leader in the overall structure of formed colored scrap - 35%.

The leading entity for the formation of non-ferrous scrap metal in 2015 was the Sverdlovsk region - 29%. In second place is the Samara region - 7%. In third place is the Moscow region - 5%.

In 2015, 3,132 thousand tons of non-ferrous scrap were used, which is 19% more than in 2014. The largest share of the use of non-ferrous scrap metal falls on the Sverdlovsk region - 29%. This is followed by the Samara region - 7%. Closes the top three Moscow region - 5%.

In 2015, a total of 359 thousand tons of scrap and non-ferrous metal waste remained in Russia. The leading constituent entity of the Russian Federation in terms of the number of scrap residues of non-ferrous metals in 2015 is the Ryazan region - 28%. This is followed by the Sverdlovsk region - 11%. The Republic of Mordovia closes the top three - 7%.

2012

According to the calculations of DISCOVERY Research Group, the volume of production of unprocessed aluminum by Rusal, which focuses on the management and ownership of aluminum production enterprises in Russia, in 2012 amounted to 4.17 million tons, which is 1.2% more than in 2011 (4.12 million tons of aluminum). In January 2013, primary aluminum production in Russia decreased by 5.3% in annual terms and by 0.8% compared to December 2012. Production growth was recorded at the Krasnoyarsk, Sayanogorsk and Novokuznetsk aluminum plants. The export volume in January-December 2013 amounted to 4.39 million tons. In 2012, the average price of aluminum amounted to $2053 per ton, in 2013 - $1897 per ton. Aluminum prices are expected to remain highly volatile in 2014 and fluctuate between $1.6 and $2,000 per tonne.

The volume of copper production by the Russian divisions of Norilsk Nickel, which accounts for 55% of the domestic copper market, increased to 90.3 thousand tons in the third quarter of 2013. The volume of copper output for 9 months of 2013 amounted to 268.8 thousand tons, which is 1% higher than the volumes of the same period in 2012. In 2012, according to Rosstat, the production of untreated zinc increased by 1.2%. In 2012, nickel production in Russia decreased by 3.7%.

According to DISCOVERY Research Group calculations, the volume of imports of non-ferrous metals to Russia in 2012 amounted to 138.3 thousand tons in kind and 674.5 million dollars in value terms. In particular, in 2012 imports of nickel amounted to 285.5 million dollars (30.6 thousand tons), copper - 114 million dollars (21.5 thousand tons), titanium - 76.6 million dollars (7.2 thousand tons), zinc - 46 million dollars (22.9 thousand tons). Imports of non-ferrous metals to Russia in January-October 2013 amounted to 136 thousand tons in kind and 589 million dollars in value terms.

The volume of exports of non-ferrous metals from Russia in 2012 amounted to 6.3 million tons in kind and 19662 million dollars in value terms; in January-October 2013 - 5.2 million tons and 16,738 million dollars, respectively. In particular, 10,789 million dollars (5.5 million tons) of aluminum, 5215 million dollars (307 thousand tons) of nickel, 3100 million dollars (400 thousand tons) of copper, 88.8 million dollars (47.8 thousand tons) of zinc were exported in 2012.

Notes