According to the statistical data for January 2009, Ukraine increased its pig iron exports by 3.3 percent year on year to 89,920 mt. The largest consumer of Ukrainian origin pig iron during the period in question was Italy, which imported 54,200 mt of this raw material, i.e. 60.3 percent of Ukraine's total pig iron exports.
On the other hand, in January 2009 Ukraine decreased its ferroalloy exports by 78.8 percent, its iron ore exports by 49.7 percent and its scrap exports by 64.9 percent year on year. The respective figures in metric tons were 16,400 mt, 951,070 mt and 14,100 mt respectively.
During the first month of 2009, Ukrainian exports of steel pipes decreased by 43.2 percent to 63,420 mt, its semi-finished steel products dropped by 4.9 percent to 906,620 mt, its exports of flat rolled steel decreased by 26.7 percent to 440,860 mt, and its exports of longs dropped by 49.5 percent to 295,640 mt, all compared to the corresponding period of 2008.