In 2010, Ukraine's steel producing companies increased their steel product exports (excluding steel pipes) by 5.8 percent year on year to 27.036 million mt, Interfax-Ukraine news agency has reported, citing Ukraine's deputy industrial policy minister Serhiy Bilenky.
Accordingly, of the country's total exports of steel products in 2010, the largest share, accounting for 42 percent, consisted of semi-finished steel products such as steel slabs and square billets. "The steelmakers continue to produce and sell rolled steel products with low added-value," Mr. Bilenky said.
Meanwhile, in 2010 Ukraine's imports of steel products increased by 80.2 percent year on year to 2.237 million mt, from 1.242 million mt in 2009. According to Mr. Bilenky, this substantial increase had objective underpinnings, as Ukraine itself does not produce all types of the rolled steel products it needs. However, Ukrainian steel companies could provide half of what was imported, he noted.