According to the data released by Belarus' Statistics and Analysis Ministry, in the first two months of 2009 the country registered a 4.1 percent increase in its crude steel production, a 1.5 percent rise in its finished steel products output, but a 28.6 percent decrease in its steel pipe output year on year. The respective figures in metric tons were 444,000, 404,000 and 8,200.
During the period in question Belarus' output of wire rod went down by 3.9 percent to 7,600 mt, while its steel cord production decreased by 7.5 percent to 14,200 mt, both compared with January-February 2008.