Ukrtruboprom enterprises boost output 10.2% in 2023

MOSCOW. March 7 (Interfax) - Pipe mills of the Ukrtruboprom association increased their production by 10.2% to 495,600 tonnes of steel pipes in 2023 year-on-year.

Some enterprises reduced output while others raised it last year, Ukrainian media said, citing data from Ukrtruboprom.

Interpipe Niko Tube increased production of seamless pipes 13.3%, while Trubostal reduced it 42.5%. The Ukrtruboizol plant increased production of electro-welded pipes 43.8%, whereas Interpipe Novomoskovsk Pipe Plant reduced output 53.8%. Centravis increased production of stainless steel pipes 11.7%. Pipe production at the Oscar plant fell 30.5%.

Pipe output stood at 30,100 tonnes in January 2023 (a decline of 55.1% compared to January 2022), 39,400 tonnes in February 2023 (a decrease of 19.6% from February 2022), 57,100 tonnes in March 2023 (up 1,531.4% compared to March 2022), 42,300 tonnes in April (128.6% more than in April 2022), 49,600 tonnes in May 2023 (a decline of 3.5% from May 2022), 35,000 tonnes in June 2023 (a decline of 32.2% from June 2022).

Ukrtruboprom enterprises produced 43,900 tonnes of pipes in July 2023 (12% more than in July 2022, 41,800 tonnes in August 2023 (14.5% more than in August 2022), 36,900 tonnes in September 2023 (a decrease of 10.1% from September 2022), 39,700 tonnes in October 2023 (a decline of 2% from October 2022), 37,200 tonnes in November 2023 (10.1% more than in November 2022), and 42,400 tonnes in December 2023 (139.5% more than in December 2022).

Ukrtruboprom CEO Georgy Polsky said this was the Ukrainian pipe industry's first growth in two years.

"Against this backdrop, it is logical that we cannot talk about the pre-crisis levels of pipe production: the results of 2023 are a mere 70% of the level seen in 2021. Even so results could be higher if imported products from China had not entered the domestic market in large volumes, especially when the same pipes are produced in Ukraine. Chinese pipe products simply flooded the Ukrainian market both in the private segment and at the tenders of state-owned companies," Polsky said.

"That is why, we were greatly encouraged to see the creation of the Made in Ukraine nationwide platform, which could help change the state's economic policy," he said.

As reported, Ukrtruboprom enterprises reduced their pipe production 37.9% to 449,700 tonnes in 2022 year-on-year. Output decreased at all of them that year. Thus, Interpipe Niko Tube and Trubostal cut production of seamless pipes 31.1% and 61.6%, respectively, in 2022. Centravis' production of stainless steel pipes dropped 38.3%, while Interpipe Novomoskovsk Pipe Plant reduced output of electro-welded pipes 67.1%. Pipe production by Oscar fell 20%, and only NPO and Ukrtruboizol managed to maintain their output at the level recorded in 2021. Dnepropetrovsk Pipe Plant did not operate and is currently in the process of liquidation.