Total export shipments of semi-finished steel products from Ukraine were at 489,000 mt in September, 4.5 percent below August results, according to SteelOrbis calculations based on the customs data. Falling prices in the international market and slowing demand in MENA hit exports and the volumes will keep declining in October-November as some mills decided to limit production due to unfavorable market conditions.
Dniprovsky Integrated Iron and Steel Works (DMK), one of the largest billet suppliers from Ukraine, has decided to keep some equipment, stopped earlier for repairs in September, idled in October in view of the global crises in the steel market and decreased profitability. DMZ has also stopped steelmaking capacities in early October.
In January-September, ex-Ukraine shipments of semi-finished steel totaled 5.36 million mt, 9.4 percent above the same period of last year. More than a half of total sales have been to Italy, Egypt and Turkey.
