According to the data released by Belarus' National Statistical Committee, in the first nine months of 2009 the country registered a 6.3 percent decrease year on year in its crude steel production to 1.9 million metric tons, and a 3.4 percent drop in its finished steel product output to 1.8 million metric tons.
Some products like steel pipe, wire rod and steel cord registered important decreases in output during the period in question, of 37.5, 44 and 30 percent year on year respectively. The respective figures in metric tons were 76,500, 37,700 and 50,800.
As of October 1, 2009, Belarus' steelmakers have accumulated 4,700 mt of steel pipes in their warehouses, which is 77.1 percent of their average monthly pipe production volume. Compared to October 1, 2008, the producers' steel pipe reserves have increased by 91.7 percent. Meanwhile, steelmakers' reserves of wire rod have increased by 6.7 times year on year to 3,000 mt, which is 15.9 percent of their average monthly wire rod output volume. The total value of steel products accumulated in the warehouses of local steelmakers amounts to Belarus Rubles 107.1 billion (approx. $39.3 million).