According to the data released by Belarus' National Statistical Committee, in the first eight months of 2009 the country registered a 3.6 percent decrease in its crude steel production to 1.74 million metric tons, and a 1.7 percent drop in its finished steel product output to 1.617 million metric tons.
Some products like steel pipe, wire rod and steel cord registered important decreases in output during the period in question, of 39.6, 40 and 30 percent year on year respectively. The respective figures in metric tons were 67,500, 35,900 and 44,900.
Meanwhile, in January-July this year, the net profit of Belarusian steel industry companies amounted to Belarus Ruble 70.3 billion (about $25.3 million) - down 87 percent compared to January-July 2008.