According to the Ukrainian association of metal producers Metallurgprom, in November Ukrainian steelmakers posted their highest average daily pig iron output since the beginning of 2009, i.e. 76,300 tons. However, during the first week of December this number decreased to 74,200 tons.
Average daily pig iron output in the first week of December this year increased by 38.18% YoY while rising by just 1.23% MoM.
During the first eleven months of 2009, Ukraine average daily pig iron output amounted to 69,800 tons down by 12.5% YoY. In January to November this year, Ukraine registered pig iron production decrease by 20.5% YoY to 23.32 million tons.
According to the Metallurgprom data, as of December 1st , 2009, 12 of Ukraine’s 41 blast furnaces continue to stand idle: one due to lack of coke, two due to the lack of product sales, four as a result of repairs, while five were withdrawn from service. In addition, two of the country 21 converters, 19 of its 35 open-hearth furnaces and eight of its 15 electric furnaces also continue to stand idle. (SteelGuru)