Ukrainian iron ore exports, imports in January-July 2006

According to the preliminary data released by Ukrrudprom, the Association of Ore-dressing Enterprises of Ukraine, the country's exports of iron ore increased 9.3 percent year on year to 11.571 million metric tons in the first seven months of 2006. In particular, during the given period, Ukrainian enterprises increased export of concentrate by 51.3 percent to 2.212 million metric tons, that of sintering ore by 19.1 percent to 4.205 million metric tons but decreased the exports of pellets by 7.9 percent to 5.154 million metric tons. On the other hand, during January - July of 2006, Ukraine decreased the imports of iron ore by 18 percent to 1.01 million metric tons year on year. In connection to the decrease in overall imports of iron ore, during the period under the consideration, Ukraine increased the imports of iron ore concentrate from Russia 18.4 percent to 679,000 metric tons, but decreased the imports of sintering ore 30.1 percent to 305,300 metric tons and that of pellets 86.8 percent to 26,900 metric tons.