According to the preliminary data, in the first six months of 2008 Ukraine increased its finished steel products output by six percent and its crude steel output by four percent year on year to 18.94 million metric tons and 22.25 million metric tons respectively. Meanwhile, during the period in question, Ukraine's pig iron production rose four percent to 18.52 million metric tons, compared to the corresponding period of 2007.
During the given period, Ukraine saw a 10 percent decrease in its steel pipe production to 1.27 million metric tons but a 10 percent increase in its coke production to 11.16 million metric tons.
In its iron ore segment, in January-June 2008 Ukraine produced 40.6 million metric tons of iron ore - up six percent, 32.37 million metric tons of iron ore concentrate - up eight percent, 11.48 million metric tons of pellets - up two percent, and 25.33 million metric tons of agglomerate - up two percent, all compared to January-June 2007.
In addition, during the first half year of 2008 scrap supplies to the Ukrainian steel mills remained at the level of corresponding period of last year - i.e. 3.47 million metric tons.