Ukrainian steel production for January-September

According to the data released by Ukraine's Ministry of Industrial Policy, during January-September 2006 the country's production of rolled steel and iron rose 8 percent year on year to 25.6 million mts and 24.4 million mts respectively. Meanwhile, Ukrainian production of steel pipes rose 12 percent to 1.9 million mts. In the period in question, scrap supplies to domestic steel smelters rose 8 percent year on year to 4.89 million mts. The Ministry of Industrial Policy said that the increase in production was due to the higher demand in the world steel market. The ministry added that Ukraine's total steel production may rise by 5 percent in 2006 to 40.6 million tons, and that rolled steel output may increase by 6 percent to 34.2 million tons, if the current pace of growth continues. The ministry also expects scrap supply to domestic smelters to increase by 3 percent in 2006 to 6.54 million tons.