The major Ukrainian steelmakers have released their preliminary production results for the first month of 2010.
Accordingly, of the top seven largest Ukrainian steel producers, only Azovstal and ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih showed quarter-on-quarter increases in output, of 4.9 percent and 3.9 percent respectively, due to positive changes in the market situation. "Azovstal is part of Metinvest, and ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih is a subsidiary of ArcelorMittal, both have their own large distribution networks worldwide, which no other steelmakers in Ukraine have. In this way, they have traditionally been the best sellers," Andrey Gerus, an analyst at Ukrainian investment company Concorde Capital, said. On the other hand, Alchevsk Iron and Steel Works (Alchevsk), a subsidiary of Industrial Union of Donbass, Dneprovsky Iron and Steel Works named after F. Dzerzhinsky and Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol (Ilyich) did not manage to increase their output mainly due to the shortage of raw materials, as none of them have their own raw material base.
In January 2010, ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih produced 448,000 mt of finished steel - up 33 percent, 534,000 mt of crude steel - up 80 percent, 465,000 mt of pig iron - up 65 percent, 851,000 mt of agglomerate - up 54 percent, and 234,000 mt of coke - up 33.7 percent, all compared to the first month of 2009.
During the first month of 2010, Azovstal increased its crude steel output by 103 percent to 486,800 metric tons, its pig iron production by 98 percent to 411,400 mt and its finished steel production by 108 percent to 458,800 mt, all compared to the corresponding period of 2009. Meanwhile, Azovstal's metallurgical coke output registered an increase of 16 percent year on year to 168,500 mt.
In January 2010, Ilyich increased its finished steel products output by 61.9 percent and its pipe production by 80 percent year on year, to 314,000 mt and 3,600 mt respectively. Ilyich's crude steel production went up by 66 percent, its pig iron output rose by 61.2 percent and its agglomerate production increased by 48.8 percent, year on year. The respective figures in metric tons were 430,000, 361,000 and 811,000. The plant is operating at 60 percent of its capacity.
During the first month of 2010, Dneprovsky Iron and Steel Works named after F. Dzerzhinsky decreased its crude steel production by 11.4 percent year on year to 296,000 mt and saw a fall of 14.7 percent year on year in its pig iron production to 266,000 mt. Meanwhile, during the month in question, the plant also reduced its output of finished steel by 13.3 percent to 268,000 and decreased its agglomerate production by 20 percent to 383,000 mt, both compared to January 2009.
In January 2010, Zaporizhstal decreased its finished steel production by 4.1 percent and its crude steel production by 3.7 percent year on year, to 213,000 mt and 256,000 mt respectively. Zaporizhstal's agglomerate production went down by five percent and its pig iron production declined by 2.2 percent year on year. The respective figures in metric tons were 377,000 and 221,000.
During the month in question, Alchevsk reduced its pig iron production by 16.7 percent, its crude steel production by 13 percent, its finished steel production by 14.7 percent, and its agglomerate production by 1.6 percent year on year. The respective figures in metric tons were 219,000, 255,000, 233,000 and 359,000.
During the first month of 2010, Yenakievo Iron and Steel Works (EMZ) slightly increased its pig iron production by 1.35 percent to 179,800 mt while its finished steel output rose by 0.35 percent to 200,500 mt, both compared with the same month last year. Meanwhile, the plant's crude steel production was at the same level as in January 2009, i.e., 206,000 mt.