According to the Ukrainian association of metal producers Metallurgprom, in November this year Ukrainian steelmakers posted their highest average daily pig iron output since the beginning of 2009, i.e., 76,300 mt. However, during the first week of December, this number decreased to 74,200 mt.
Meanwhile, average daily pig iron output in the first week of December this year increased by 38.18 percent year on year, while rising by just 1.23 percent month on month.
During the first eleven months of 2009, Ukraine's average daily pig iron output amounted to 69,800 mt - down 12.5 percent compared to the same period last year. In January-November this year, Ukraine registered a 20.5 percent decrease year on year in its pig iron production to 23.32 million mt.
According to the Metallurgprom data, as of December 1, 2009, 12 of Ukraine's 41 blast furnaces continue to stand idle - one due to lack of coke, two due to the lack of product sales, four as a result of repairs, while five were withdrawn from service. In addition, two of the country's 21 converters, 19 of its 35 open hearth furnaces, and eight of its 15 electric furnaces also continue to stand idle.