Interfax-Ukraine quoted the Industrial Policy Ministry said Ukraine steel industry reduced finished roll output 18%YoY in January to November to 24.417 million tonnes.
The industry cut roll output 30%YoY in January to August, 27% in January to September and 23% in January to October, so the latest figures indicate that the severe decline in the industry is still slowing. Crude steel production plummeted 23% in the 11 months to 27.008 million tonnes and pig iron fell 20% to 23.32 million tonnes.
The country produced 1.458 million tonnes of steel pipes down by 35%YoY. Iron ore concentrate production fell 7% to 49.414 million tonnes; prepared iron ore fell 16% to 50.177 million tonnes including pellets 4% to 18.495 million tonnes and sinter ore 22% to 31.682 million tonnes and crude iron ore was down by 12% to 59.335 million tonnes.
Ukrainian coke production fell 14% to 15.824 million tonnes. Scrap deliveries to Ukrainian steel mills were down 27% from January to November last year to 4.099 million tonnes.
Steel industry output in Ukraine started to plummet in August last year due to a drop in demand, particularly in October to December. Some steel mills stopped some of their capacity. However signs of improvement have been seen since May.
Ukraine reduced finished roll output 13% in 2008 to 31.493 million tonnes. The country produced 37.107 million tonnes of crude steel and 30.982 million tonnes of pig iron in both cases approximately 13% less than in 2007. It produced 2.456 million tonnes of steel pipes in 2008, 6% less.
Iron ore concentrate production fell 7% to 56.696 million tonnes; prepared iron ore fell 12% to 63.452 million tonnes, including pellets down by 9% to 20.401 million tonnes and sinter ore down 13% to 43.052 million tonnes and crude iron ore down by 7% to 71.721 million tonnes.
Ukrainian coke production fell 5% to 19.465 million tonnes. Metalware production fell 30% to 299,000 tonnes. Scrap deliveries to Ukrainian steel mills were down 17% from 2007 to 5.824 million tonnes in 2008. (Interfax-Ukraine)