According to the preliminary data, in the first five 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 16.63 million metric tons and 18.6 million metric tons respectively. Meanwhile, during the period in question, Ukraine's pig iron production rose four percent to 15.5 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 1.059 million metric tons but a 10 percent increase in its coke production to 9.3 million metric tons.
In its iron ore segment, in January-May 2008 Ukraine produced 33.7 million metric tons of iron ore - up six percent, 26.8 million metric tons of iron ore concentrate - up eight percent, 9.4 million metric tons of pellets - up two percent, and 21.12 million metric tons of agglomerate - up one percent, all compared to January-May 2007.
In addition, during the first five months of 2008 scrap supplies to the Ukrainian steel mills decreased by one percent year on year to 2.91 million metric tons.