According to the data released by metal trading enterprise Ukrainian Mining and Metallurgical Company (UGMK), in the first three months of the current year Ukrainian imports of rolled steel increased by 23.8 percent year on year to 371,200 mt.
In March this year, Ukraine imported 136,500 mt of rolled steel, up 18.3 percent compared to February and marking an increase of 26.6 percent year on year.
In 2011, it is anticipated that Ukraine's imports of rolled steel may reach 1.6-1.67 million mt.
The main importers of rolled steel in Ukraine in March were pipe companies (accounting for 37.8 percent of the total import volume), machine building companies (19.4 percent), metal trading companies (14.9 percent) and companies in the mining and metallurgical industry (nine percent).