The major Ukrainian steelmakers have released their preliminary production results for the first month of 2010.
Of the top seven largest Ukrainian steel producers, only Azovstal and ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih showed QoQ increases in output, of 4.9% and 3.9% respectively, due to positive changes in the market situation.
Mr. Andrey Gerus, an analyst at the Ukrainian investment company Concorde Capital, said “Alchevsk is part of Metinvest, and ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih is a subsidiary of ArcelorMittal both have their own large distribution networks worldwide, which no other steelmakers in Ukraine have. In this way, they have traditionally been the best sellers.”
On the other hand, Alchevsk Iron and Steel Works, a subsidiary of Industrial Union of Donbass, Dneprovsky Iron and Steel Works named after F. Dzerzhinsky and Mariupol Ilyich Iron and Steel Works did not manage to increase their output mainly due to the shortage of raw materials, as none of them had their own raw material base.
In January 2010, ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih produced 448,000 tons of finished steel up by 33% YoY, 534,000 tons of crude steel up by 80% YoY, 465,000 tons of pig iron up by 65% YoY, 851,000 tons of agglomerate up by 54% YoY and 234,000 tons of coke up by 33.7% YoY.
During the first month of 2010, Azovstal increased its crude steel output by 103% to 486,800 tons, its pig iron production by 98% YoY to 411,400 tons and its finished steel production by 108% YoY to 458,800 tons. Meanwhile, Azovstal’s metallurgical coke output registered an increase of 16% YoY to 168,500 tons.
In January 2010, Ilyich increased its finished steel products output by 61.9% and its pipe production by 80% YoY to 314,000 tons and 3,600 tons respectively. Ilyich crude steel production went up by 66%, its pig iron output rose by 61.2% and its agglomerate production increased by 48.8% YoY. The respective figures in metric tons were 430,000, 361,000 and 811,000. The plant is operating at 60% of its capacity.
During the first month of 2010, Dneprovsky Iron and Steel Works named after F. decreased its crude steel production by 11.4% YoY to 296,000 tons and saw a fall of 14.7% YoY in its pig iron production to 266,000 tons. Meanwhile during the month in question, the plant also reduced its output of finished steel by 13.3% to 268,000 and decreased its agglomerate production by 20% to 383,000 tons both compared to January 2009.
In January 2010, Zapirozhstal decreased its finished steel production by 4.1% and its crude steel production by 3.7% YoY to 213,000 tons and 256,000 tons respectively. Zaporizhstal agglomerate production went down by 5% and its pig iron production declined by 2.2% YoY. The respective figures in metric tons were 377,000 and 221,000.
During the month in question, Alchevsk reduced its pig iron production by 16.7%, its crude steel production by 13%, its finished steel production by 14.7% and its agglomerate production by 1.6% YoY. The respective figures in tons were 219,000, 255,000, 233,000 and 359,000.
During the first month of 2010, Yenakievo Iron and Steel Works slightly increased its pig iron production by 1.35% to 179,800 tons while its finished steel output rose by 0.35% to 200,500 tons both compared with the same month last year. Meanwhile, the plant’s crude steel production was at the same level as in January 2009, i. e. 206,000 tons. (SteelOrbis)