Ukrainian steel industry decline still slowing
KYIV. Nov 2 (Interfax) - Ukraine's steel industry reduced finished roll output 23% year-on-year in January-October to 21.708 million tonnes, the Industrial Policy Ministry told Interfax.
The industry cut roll output 34% year-on-year in January-July, and 30% in January-August and 27% in January-September, so the latest figures indicate that the severe decline in the industry is still slowing.
Crude steel production plummeted 28% in the ten months to 24.34 million tonnes and pig iron fell 25% to 21.031 million tonnes.
The country produced 1.338 million tonnes of steel pipes, down 37% year-on-year.
Iron ore concentrate production fell 15% to 44.29 million tonnes; prepared iron ore fell 21% to 45.397 million tonnes, including pellets - 11% to 16.616 million tonnes and sinter ore - 26% to 28.638 million tonnes; and crude iron ore was down 19% to 53.049 million tonnes.
Ukrainian coke production fell 18% to 14.315 million tonnes.
Scrap deliveries to Ukrainian steel mills were down 33% from January-October last year to 3.65 million tonnes.
Steel industry output in Ukraine started to plummet in August last year due to a drop in demand, particularly in October-December. Some steel mills stopped some of their capacity. However signs of improvement have been seen since May.