The Ukrainian steelmaker Azovstal, a subsidiary of the Ukrainian iron ore and steel producing company Metinvest Holding, has issued its preliminary production results for 2008.
In 2008, Azovstal decreased its finished steel output by 10 percent to 5.039 million mt, its crude steel production by 12.8 percent to 5.519 million mt, its pig iron output by 15.3 percent to 4.611 million mt, and its agglomerate production by 0.2 percent to 1.947 million mt, all compared to 2007. In addition, Azovstal's metallurgical coke output in 2008 saw a decrease of 11.7 percent year on year to 2.186 million mt.
In December, Azovstal registered a decrease in its finished steel output by 10.9 percent to 188,000 mt, but saw an increase in its crude steel production by 4.8 percent, in its pig iron output by 5.4 percent and in its agglomerate production by 2.47 percent, to 219,000 mt, 195,000 mt, and 166,000 mt respectively, all compared to the data for November.
Also in December, Azovstal purchased 4,800 mt of scrap, which is 32 percent of its estimated monthly needs, i.e. 15,000 million metric tons. On January 1, 2009, the company's reserves of scrap amounted to 40,300 mt.