The Ukrainian flat steel producer Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol (Ilyich) is on the verge of shutting down its operations due to absence of orders, said the mill's president Vladimir Boiko.
Mr. Boiko said that a similar situation is observed at Dnepropetrovsk Metallurgical Plant named after Dzerjzinskiy, Alchevsk Iron and Steel Works, and also at Zaporizhstal. According to market participants, the plants will be closed for a minimum of 15 days.
Ilyich has been experiencing difficulties for some time now. At the beginning of August, due to absence of orders Ilyich halted its flat rolling workshop 1700 for scheduled repairs, which were originally scheduled for the coming month of October.