Ukraine’s Jan-Nov crude steel output rises 4.9% on year

Ukraine’s output of crude steel increased by 4.9% on the year to 19.62 million mt in January-November from 18.71 million mt produced in the same period a year ago, Ukrmetallurgprom, the country’s steel making industry association, reported Dec. 14.

At the same time, output of pig iron increased by 4.5% on the year to 19.43 million mt, production of rolled steel rose 5% to 17.55 million mt and output of steel pipes and tubes increased by 16% to 910,000 mt.

Over the first 11 months of the year, Ukraine’s coke output fell 1% to 8.73 million mt from 8.82 million mt, but production of sintered iron ore increased by 4.7% to 30.34 million mt from 28.99 million mt in January-November 2020.

Ukrainian enterprises exported 40.67 million mt of iron ore and concentrate in January-November, down 2.8% year-on-year.

Ukraine is one of the world’s largest producers of iron ore and steel.

Ukrainian metal companies in January-November increased earnings from exports of ferrous metals by 81% to $12.62 billion from $6.98 billion in the same period last year, according to the state customs service.

In January-November, the country’s metallurgy sector consumed 1.72 billion cu m of natural gas, up 0.9% on the year, and power consumption rose 3.6% on the year to 10.45 billion kWh. Consumption of coke rose 3% on the year to 7.67 million mt, but consumption of coking coal fell 2.6% to 11.83 million mt, the association said.

Ukrainian metallurgy enterprises also collected 3.54 million mt of ferrous metal scrap in the period, up 34% on the year.

As of Dec. 14, out of 21 blast furnaces, 15 were in operation in Ukraine, the association said. Also were in operation seven out of eight open-hearth furnaces, 10 out of 16 converters, five out of 15 electric furnaces and 14 continuous billet casting machines out of 17 were also in use.

In 2020, Ukraine’s output of crude steel fell 1.1% to 20.62 million mt from 20.85 million mt in 2019.

— Alexander Bor