By 2020 Ukrainian sheet steel market would have increased twofold as compared to 2012, to around 1.2 million tons, says Andrey Ozeichuk, business-director of Ruuki-Ukraine.
But, according to his forecsts, next year Ukrainian demand for sheet steel would fall by 5-7%.
He says, sheet steel market volume last year was almost 510 thousand tons.
But in the first half of 2013 sheet steel market in Ukraine grew (taking into account warehouse stock) by 4%, to 245 thousand tons, compared to the same period of last year.
At the same time the half-year output of sheet steel decreased by 16%, to 144 thousand tons, while the exports fell by 20%, to 70.8 thousand tons. The imports increased by 30%.
According to Andrey Ozeichuk, the largest share in imports is held by low-quality steel from China, other main importers being ArcellorMittal, U. S. Steel and Ruuki. (Ukrainian metal)