OREANDA-NEWS. November 6, 2012. Lebedinsky GOK (“LGOK”), a part of METALLOINVEST, has won the “Best Exporter” award at the competition that recognises companies’ activities on foreign markets. The competition was organised by the Federal Customs Service of Russia as part of the 13th international “Customs Service 2012” event, the main exhibition for the Customs Union and Eurasian Economic Community. The awards recognise the entities active on foreign markets and organisations involved in customs affairs which have been the most successful at conducting international trade, adopting cutting-edge customs-oriented technologies, as well as providing transparency in their customs procedures.

90 participants, comprising entities active on foreign markets as well as organisations involved in customs affairs, took part in the event this year. Media outlets with a focus on customs activities also attended. There were eight categories in total, with LGOK winning the “Best Exporter” category based on its 2011 results.

In 2011, LGOK shipments totaled 19.4 million tonnes of iron ore products including hot briquetted iron and pellets, representing a 12% increase in comparison with the previous year. Exports accounted for 55.6% of shipments, while 44.4% was sold on the internal market.

Oleg Mikhailov, Managing Director of LGOK, commented: “LGOK’s shipments increased in 2011 compared with the preceding year. This in turn signifies an increase in customs duties. These contribute to the federal budget as well as to the budget of the Belgorod region where we operate.”

This is the second time that LGOK has won an award at this competition. In 2008, it achieved third place in the “Best Foreign Trade” category. The jury gave high ratings to LGOK’s speed of export and import growth, its continued participation in foreign activities as well as its use of online declaration processes.