Ukraine sees decline in steel output

Ukraine sees decline in steel output

Ukraine's finished steel output fell 1 percent year on year in the first ten months of 2005 due to the production cuts in the second quarter of 2005. Ukraine's Industrial Ministry disclosed that the country's finished steel output amounted to 26.5 million metric tons in the first ten months of the year. Ukraine's crude steel production decreased 2 percent to 31.8 million metric tons in January-October 2005 period, while pig iron production fell 2 percent to 25.4 million metric tons. On the other hand, steel pipe production jumped 13 percent to 1.9 million metric tons during the same period. Ukraine produced 43.8 million metric tons of iron ore concentrate in the first ten months, an increase of 4 percent from a year earlier. Sinter production also rose 1 percent to 39.2 million metric tons, pellet production increased 7 percent to 14.5 million metric tons and crude ore production grew 4 percent to 56.7 million metric tons.