Ukraine's largest vertically-integrated mining and steel group Metinvest has announced that starting from March 2011 it plans monthly sales of 2,500-3,000 mt of rebar to Belarus, as it has completed the certification of the reinforcing bars produced by its subsidiary Makiivka Iron and Steel Works for the market of Belarus based on the standards for this region.
Accordingly, the certification will allow Metinvest to increase its sales of long steel products to the market of Belarus to 50,000 mt, which is a twofold increase of sections and shaped steel sales volumes compared to last year.
"This year we are planning to sell around 25,000 mt of rebars to the Belorussian market. Including the plans to ship other long products, the total volume of sections and shaped steel will increase to 50,000 mt," said Dmitry Nikolayenko, sales director of Metinvest's steel and rolled products division.
Belarus is one of the most intensive markets among CIS countries in terms of steel consumption. In 2010, CIS countries (excluding Russia) received 159,300 mt of rolled steel from Metinvest. Belarus received 49,700 mt of rolled products from Metinvest during the year in question, taking its share in the CIS sales structure of Metinvest to 31 percent.