The fact that the Russian market, the domestic stainless steel sheet gradually gave way to a strategically important position to import analogues, to a large extent the group «Mechel» management companies blame. It is this opinion was expressed by analysts «Special Steels' Association, published on its website an analytical article on the state of affairs in the sector.

In particular, in the above-mentioned material experts «Special steels» lead figures on shares of flat stainless steel domestic and foreign production. These data show that in the period from 2004 to 2012, the year the volume of imports of corrosion-resistant metal varieties rose more than 200%, while the production of these products in the GC «Mechel» capacity dropped significantly. At the same time, according to the Association of Professionals, the actions of the group of companies (taken to combat imported metal swamping the market and sales optimization) were wrong and led to the opposite of the expected results.

So one of the major mistakes of the Russian manufacturer was the demand from the Government the introduction of anti-dumping duties on imports of ikelsoderzhaschego rolled from the European Union countries in 2007. These measures have led to the withdrawal of the Russian market of European manufacturers of stainless steel, which came to replace the Asian producers with significantly lower metal prices. Another important step in the degradation of Russian-made analysts «Special steels» refers to the termination of cooperation with third-party metal traders (at the end of 2010. Management of «Mechel» refused the services of dealers in favor of direct sales of products to customers). As a result, the market formed a number of alternative delivery channels stainless metal, where the subject of bargaining, of course, was imported metal.

In terms of 2012 the trend of growth of interest of Russian consumers to import stainless steel remained flat, though, and showed significantly less aggressive (than in previous years) dynamics. So over the past 12 months, the country had imported 170.49 thousand. Tons of metal in this category, which is 1.8% more than the 2011 figures.