According to the data released by Belarus' National Statistical Committee, in the first half of 2010 the country registered a 0.4 percent decrease year on year in its crude steel production to 1.324 million metric tons, and a three percent drop in its rolled steel product (finished) output to 1.222 million metric tons.
Meanwhile, in H1 this year, Belarus' output of steel pipes increased by 69.4 percent year on year to 80,500 metric tons, including 50,600 metric tons of seamless steel pipes - up 143.5 percent year on year. In addition, the country's steel wire rod production went up by 10.4 percent to 34,300 metric tons, and its steel cord output increased by 20.5 percent to 44,600 metric tons, both compared to the same period last year.
Compared to May this year, the country's crude steel output in June decreased by 1.9 percent to 218,200 mt, its rolled steel products output went up by 1.1 percent to 195,500 mt, its steel pipe production increased by 47.2 percent to 16,600 mt, while its steel wire rod output decreased by 1.6 percent to 5,800 mt, and its steel cord production went up by 8.8 percent to 7,300 mt.
As of July 1 this year, Belarus' steelmakers had accumulated 7,100 mt of steel pipes in their warehouses, a figure which equals 61.8 percent of their average monthly pipe production volume. The total value of steel products accumulated in the warehouses of local steelmakers as of July 1 this year amounted to Belarus Ruble 70.2 billion (approx. $23.3 million), which is equal to 15.7 percent of the country's average monthly steel production volume.