According to preliminary information issued by the Ukrainian Association of Metal Traders, in 2007 the country increased its steel consumption by 26.5 percent year on year to 9.45 million metric tons. Meanwhile, the domestic steel consumption in Ukraine in 2008 is expected to increase by 21 percent year on year to 11.5 million metric tons.
Based on data issued by Russia's Ministry of Industry and Energy, Russian domestic steel consumption in 2007 increased by 13.7 percent year on year to 38.2 million metric tons. In particular, during the year in question, Russian domestic producers supplied about 32.8 million metric tons of steel products to the market and imports accounted for the balance. In 2007, the Russian domestic market saw an increase in import deliveries from China (flats, longs, pipes and sheet with coating), as well as from other Asian states such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and India. Out of the CIS states, Ukraine and Kazakhstan were among the main exporters of steel products to Russia in 2007.