Wedoany.com Report on Feb 25th, The Russian metal industry plans a total investment of 55.9 billion rubles in 2026, of which 24.1 billion rubles will be specifically dedicated to new project construction. These investments primarily target the modernization of existing enterprises to enhance production efficiency and competitiveness.
As one of Russia's major steel producers, Severstal has announced its 2026 investment plan, allocating 98.3 billion rubles for projects at the Cherepovets Iron and Steel Works. Of this, 68.6 billion rubles will be used for development projects, including the continued construction of an iron ore pellet production complex—described by the company as the largest investment project since the initial construction of the Cherepovets steel plant, with a total investment of 116 billion rubles. This project aims to introduce high-quality, low-carbon steel production technology and is expected to reduce harmful emissions by 50% and cut annual greenhouse gas emissions by over 2 million tons.
Approximately 80% of Russia's steel and metallurgical products are produced by nine large companies, including Novolipetsk Steel (annual capacity of 15.7 million tons of steel), Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (annual capacity of 11.6 million tons of steel), and the Evraz Group. These enterprises are located in regions such as Vologda Oblast, Kemerovo Oblast, and Chelyabinsk Oblast.
In 2025, investment in the Russian metal industry showed negative growth, with quarterly figures of -7.1 billion rubles, -12.5 billion rubles, -16.0 billion rubles, and -25.0 billion rubles, respectively. Analysis indicates that the industry is undergoing an adjustment phase, primarily due to declining domestic demand (domestic metal demand in 2025 decreased by approximately 14% year-on-year), a high-interest-rate environment, and limited export markets. Experts predict that investment will gradually recover by 2026, with increased spending on technological innovation and green transformation expected to drive more stable growth in the industry.
