In December last year, Ukrainian steelmaker Zaporizhstal's finished steel product output increased by 10.4 percent to 295,200 mt, its crude steel production rose by 17.2 percent to 357,800 mt, while its pig iron production moved up by 38.2 percent to 365,700 mt, all year on year, according to the company's results.
In the whole year of 2017, Zaporizhstal saw a 5.4 percent year-on-year increase in its pig iron output to 3.79 million mt, its crude steel production rose by 0.9 percent year on year to 3.92 million mt, while its finished steel product output declined by 4.5 percent year on year to 3.21 million mt.
Zaporizhstal's general director Rostislav Shurma stated that in 2017 the company reached a record in pig iron production, reduced production costs and increased the energy efficiency of production, and added that the most important task of Zaporizhstal in 2018 is to start the construction of an oxygen-converter shop, which will open new horizons for the plant for the next 20-30 years.