In the first nine months of the current year, the Ukrainian flat steel producer Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol (Ilyich) saw its crude steel production rise by 30.3 percent to about 4.05 million mt as compared to the same period last year.
In addition, in January-September this year, Ilyich's finished steel product output went up by 24 percent to 2.778 million mt, its pig iron production increased by 30.2 percent to 3.407 million mt, its agglomerate production grew by 38.7 percent to 7.997 million mt, while its steel pipe output increased by 83.7 percent to 55,600 mt, all compared to January-September 2009.
In September this year, Ilyich produced 459,000 mt of crude steel - down 5.6 percent, 363,000 mt of finished steel products - up 18.6 percent, 368,000 mt of pig iron - down 8.2 percent, 846,000 mt of agglomerate - down seven percent, and 4,500 mt of steel pipes - up 25 percent, all compared to August 2010.
On September 16, Ilyich stopped the converter No.1 at its oxygen converter shop for capital repair work. Operations at the repaired unit were resumed on September 25.