Ukraine has managed to partially restore its domestic pig iron and steel production in the first seven months of the current year, owing to the relative accessibility of some of its ports, not occupied by Russia, and it has redirected trade flows to the European markets. However, the country’s steel industry remains severely damaged due to some mills being captured and destroyed, while the proper functioning of others is jeopardized by the ongoing war.
In the January-July period this year, Ukraine produced 3.37 million mt of pig iron, equal to 70.1 percent of the output of the same product in the first seven months of 2022, the official statistics read. In fact, while January and February showed a decline, the months of March-July reflected a solid increase, with the peak seen in May with 603,400 mt, up 55.9 percent year on year.
Crude steel production of Ukraine in the first seven months of the current year was equal to 71.2 percent of last year’s tonnage for the same period, coming to 3.43 million mt. The highest point was seen in July at 601,500 mt, up by 113.7 percent.
Ukraine’s finished steel output also peaked in July at 525,700 mt, up 151.2 percent year on year. In the January-July period this year, Ukraine produced 2.90 million mt of finished steel or 68.5 percent of the volume in the first seven months of last year.