OREANDA-NEWS. OAO TMK (“TMK” or “the Company”), one of the world’s largest oil and gas pipe producers, and the market leader of the Russian pipe industry, today provides the trading update for year 2006.

According to the press service of the company, in 2006 there was a strong demand for TMK’s products from both Russian and foreign customers, and the Company does not expect the market environment to deteriorate in the near future.

In 2006 TMK increased its share of sales outside Russia. While the overall growth of shipment volumes in 2006 was over 3%, shipments outside Russia increased by more than 8%.

The region where shipment volumes grew most was the United States, where the increase was more than 90%. Shipments to the Middle East and Gulf States increased by approximately 7%.

The largest customers for TMK’s seamless pipes in the Russian market were Surgetneftegas, TNK-BP, Lukoil, Gazprom and Tatneft. These companies account for 28.6% of the total seamless pipes shipment volumes.

The main customer for TMK’s welded pipes is Gazprom which accounts for 25% of the total welded pipe shipment volumes.