Ukrainian steelmakers issue Jan-Feb production data

The major Ukrainian steelmakers have released their preliminary production results for the January-February 2007 period. Accordingly, Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol (Ilyich) increased it finished steel products output by 10.6 percent, its crude steel production by 14.1 percent, its pig iron production by 15.9 percent, its pipe production by 32.1 percent and its agglomerate production by one percent year on year in the first two months of 2007. The respective figures in metric tons were 921,000, 1.2 million, 919,000, 14,000 and 1.85 million. During the period in question, Azovstal registered a 10.8 percent decrease in its finished steel products output, a 10.6 percent increase in its crude steel production, a 13.5 increase in its pig iron production, but a 5.2 percent drop in its agglomerate production year on year. The respective figures in metric tons stood at 830,000, 964,000, 839,000 and 312,000. Alchevsk Iron and Steel Works (Alchevsk) saw a 6.7 percent rise in its finished steel products output, a 5.1 percent increase in its crude steel output, a 2.3 percent increase in its agglomerate production but a 1.9 percent decrease in its pig iron production year on year in the January-February 2007 period. The respective figures in metric tons were 526,000, 614,000, 828,000 and 477,000. In January and February 2007, Enakievsk MZ (EMZ) produced 490,000 metric tons of finished steel products – up 23.4 percent, 439,000 metric tons of crude steel – up 5.8 percent, 372,000 metric tons of pig iron – up 3.9 percent, and 381,000 metric tons of agglomerate – down five percent compared to January and February 2006. During the same period, Mittal Steel Kriviy Rih saw a 24.2 percent increase in its finished steel output to 1.2 million metric tons, a 23.9 percent increase in its crude steel production to 1.4 million metric tons, a 26.4 percent increase in its pig iron production to 1.22 million metric tons, and a 19.5 percent increase in its agglomerate production to almost two million metric tons year on year. In the first two months of 2007 Istil produced 144,000 metric tons of finished steel products – up 51.6 percent and 142,000 metric tons of crude steel – up 44.6 percent compared to the corresponding period of 2006. Finally, in the January-February 2007 period Zaporizhstal raised its finished steel products output by 1.6 percent, its crude steel production by 3.4 percent, its pig iron production by two percent and its agglomerate production by 7.8 percent year on year. The respective figures in metric tons were 603,000, 721,000, 570,000 and 954,000.