Prospects of Russian hardware wound the Russian market of metal products in a difficult yet exciting period of development. Metalware production in Russia has a significant steel industry. For recent years the market of metal products has undergone significant changes due to consolidation of the largest companies in the holding companies. To date, this market sector is divided between five major holdings. Due to the saturation of the market before producing the task of finding new ways to attract customers and increase production, in particular – through the development of foreign markets. Today the Russian market of metal products, there are three major players: "Severstal-hardware", OAO "MMK-Metiz" and OJSC "Mechel". Also among the biggest players in the market can distinguish OAO "West-Siberian Metallurgical Combine (ZSMK) "and OAO" Metallurgical Holding ".
Hardware is a standardized hardware diverse range of industrial and general purpose: steel wire rope, wire mesh, electrodes, nails, wire rope slings, fasteners, cold-rolled steel strips, steel wire ropes. Hardware used in a number of industries – from construction to engineering. The basis of the market are wire, nails and steel cable. Experts are of the opinion that the consolidation of the Russian market of metal products in general had a positive impact on manufacturing plants, and the market as a whole. In particular, as a result of vertical integration in producers appeared assured supply of steel and reduced dependence on external suppliers.
One of the main Russian exporters of metalware products is OJSC "MMK-Metiz" and included in its structure of the enterprise. Magnitogorsk Hardware Plants shipped for export 12-13% of its production. Export geography is wide – this is the country of the CIS, many European countries: Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, France and others. This year, the export structure of the program works in "MMK-Metiz" provides for a 1.5-fold increase in exports relative to 2006. Characterizing Prospects for the Russian market metalware products, it should be noted that the projected market growth by increasing domestic production will amount to 5-6%. The main prerequisite for market growth is the hardware development consuming industries, which form a growing demand for wire, rope, tape, nails, rope slings and other products. However, according to experts of the association "Prommetiz", in Russia the production of hardware production facilities now slightly ahead of demand. This fact will play a moderating role in relation to the growth of the market of metal products.