The major Ukrainian steelmakers have released their preliminary production results for the first half year of 2008.
Accordingly, during the given period Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol (Ilyich) reduced its finished steel products output by 1.5 percent, and its pipe production by 6.9 percent year on year, but increased its crude steel production by 3.4 percent, its pig iron output by 3.6 percent and its agglomerate production by 14.6 percent. The respective figures in metric tons were 2.7 million, 56,400, 3.57 million, 2.79 million and 6.93 million.
During the first six months of 2008, Azovstal increased crude steel output by 2.6 percent to 3.172 million metric tons, agglomerate production by 2.3 percent to 976,000 metric tons, but decreased its pig iron production by 2.1 percent to 2.618 metric tons and its finished steel production by 5.7 percent to 2.884 million mt, all compared to corresponding period of 2007.
In January-June 2008, Zaporizhstal decreased its finished steel production by 1.4 percent and its crude steel production by 0.6 percent, but increased its agglomerate production by 2.5 percent and its pig iron production by 0.1 percent year on year. The respective figures in metric tons were 1.839 million, 2.234 million, 2.892 million, and 1.812 million.
During the period in question, mini-mill ISTIL produced 531,000 metric tons of finished steel - up 12.7 percent, and 538,000 metric tons of crude steel - up 7.4 percent.
In the first six months of 2008, Makeevsk MZ increased finished steel output by 9.7 percent to 566,000 metric tons, crude steel production by 0.3 percent to 899,000 metric tons, but decreased its pig iron production by 7.5 percent to 892,000 metric tons, all compared to corresponding period of 2007.
During the January-June 2008 period, ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih produced 3.47 million mt of finished steel - down three percent, 3.92 million mt of crude steel - down 6.2 percent, 3.47 million mt of pig iron - down 6.3 percent and 5.68 million mt of agglomerate - down 6.9 percent, all compared to the first half year of 2007.
In January-June 2008, Alchevsk Iron and Steel Works (Alchevsk) increased its pig iron production by 50.6 percent, its crude steel production by 37.7 percent, its finished steel production by 42.7 percent but reduced its agglomerate production by 0.9 percent year on year. The respective figures in million metric tons were 2.285, 2.611, 2.406 and 2.49.