According to the data released by Belarus' National Statistical Committee, in the first seven months of 2009 the country registered a 3.6 percent decrease in its crude steel production, a 0.5 percent drop in its finished steel product output, and a 43.5 percent fall in its steel pipe output year on year. The respective figures in metric tons were 1.518 million, 1.433 million and 59,500.
During the period in question, Belarus' output of wire rod went down by 36.3 percent to 33,900 mt, while its steel cord production decreased by 26.6 percent to 41,600 mt, both compared with January-July 2008.