According to the Ukrainian Coke Producers' Association (UkrKoks), Ukrainian steel producers, who intend to increase output by 6-16 percent year on year in 2011, may face a scarcity of coke due to the shortage of coking coal.
Accordingly, in 2011 UkrKoks expects a sharp decline in coking coal production. Citing the country's Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry, UkrKoks said that in 2011 Ukrainian mines are expected to produce 12.8 million mt of coking coal concentrate, down from 17.5 million mt in 2010. In addition, considering the steelmakers' plans to increase their pig iron output in 2011 by six percent year on year to 28.9 million mt, about 24 million mt of coking coal concentrate will be required, of which 11.2 million mt will have to be imported.
According to UkrKoks, the largest amount of coking coal concentrate that Ukraine can actually import is nine million mt, mainly from Russia, and, thus, the coking coal concentrate shortfall in 2011 could amount to at least 2.2 million mt.