Ukrainian coke scarcity crisis sharpens

The scarcity of metcoke in the Ukrainian domestic market in September was the main topic up for discussion during the recent meeting of Ukrainian steel producers and mining companies held in Dnepropetrovsk.
 
According to Metallurgprom's general director, Mr. Vasiliy Kharakhulakh, in September the shortage of metcoke in the market resulted in a shortfall of 169,000 metric tons in the country's pig iron production compared to the planned volume for the month.
 
The metcoke shortage affected all major Ukrainian steel producers including Makeevesk, ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih, and Ilyich.
 
According to the estimates of the participants at the meeting, the shortage of metcoke in the market will continue in October as well due to the undersupply of coking coal to the coking plants in Ukraine.  For instance, with the requirement of one million metric tons of coking coke for October, the current level of coking coal stocks is approximately 300,000 metric tons.