The major Ukrainian steelmakers have released their preliminary production results for the first quarter of 2007.
Accordingly, Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol (Ilyich) increased its finished steel products output by 8.1 percent, its crude steel production by 9.6 percent, pig iron production by 11.5 percent, pipe production by 10.9 percent and agglomerate production by 1.5 percent year on year in the first three months of 2007. The respective figures in metric tons were 1.42 million, 1.8 million, 1.4 million, 25,400 and 2.8 million.
During the period in question, Azovstal registered a 14.4 percent increase in its finished steel products output, a 16.1 percent increase in crude steel production, a 19.7 increase in pig iron production, but a 4.6 percent drop in its agglomerate production year on year. The respective figures in metric tons stood at 1.3 million, 1.5 million, 1.34 million and 476,000.
In the first quarter of 2007, Makeevsk Metallurgical Plant (Makeevsk) produced 381,000 metric tons of finished steel products - up 24 percent, 431,000 metric tons of crude steel - up 19.5 percent, and 459,000 metric tons of pig iron - up 1.9-fold, compared to the same period of 2006.
In the first three months of 2007, Istil produced 232,000 metric tons of finished steel products - up 64.5 percent, and 233,000 metric tons of crude steel - up 56.4 percent, compared to the corresponding period of 2006.
Finally, in the January-March 2007 period Zaporizhstal raised its finished steel products output by 1.9 percent, crude steel production by 2.2 percent, pig iron production by 0.5 percent and its agglomerate production by five percent year on year. The respective figures in metric tons were 920,000, 1.1 million, 868,000 and 1.4 million.