OREANDA-NEWS. In January-September 2006, Ukraine’s iron ore mining plants raised production by 7-8% from the corresponding period in 2005. At the same time, coke and hardware production fell.

Rolled steel and pig-iron production have grown in the nine months, Interfax-Ukraine reports, by 8%, to reach 25.556 mn and 24.387 mn tons respectively, with steel production up by 7% to reach 30.369 mn tons.

Hardware production dropped by 1% down to 318,000 tons, coke down by 0.4% to 14.123 mn tons. Scrap metal supplies to Ukraine steel plants increased by 8% to reach 4.890 mn tons. Pipe production went up by 12% to 1.933 mn tons.

Iron ore plants raised 9-month production by 7% to reach 54.088 mn tons, iron ore concentrate up by 7% to reach 41.903 mn tons. Iron ore concentrate sales went up by 5% to 50.765 mn tons, including sales of pellets up by 16% to 15.288 mn tons, agglomerate up by 1% to 35.478 mn tons.

According to a representative of Ukraine Ministry for Industrial Policy, if current growth rates stay, in 2006 Ukraine will raise production of rolled steel by 6% yoy to 34.169 mn tons, of steel up by 5% yoy to 40.603 mn tons, of pig iron up by 6% to 32.605 mn tons, of pipes up by 13% to 2.584 mn tons, iron ore up by 5% to 72.315 mn tons, iron ore concentrate up by 6% to 56.024 mn tons. Sales of iron ore concentrate will grow by 4% to 67.873 mn tons, including sales of pellets up by 17% to 20.44 mn tons, with agglomerate sales at the level of 2006 or 47.433 mn tons.

Scrap metal supplies to steel plants will grow by 3% to 6.538 mn tons, with coke production at its 2005 level of 18.883 mn tons.

In 2005, Ukraine rolled steel production went up by 0.5% to 32.183 mn tons, steel production went down by 0.2% to 38,636 mn tons, pig iron production up by 1% to 30.773 mn tons, hardware production up by 7% to 440,000 tons, of coke up by 14% to 18.858 mn tons. Scrap metal supplies dropped by 8% to 6.370 mn tons, but pipe production was up by 13% to 2.293 mn tons.

In 2005, Ukraine iron ore plants raised production of ore by 5% to 68.539 mn tons, including of iron ore concentrate up by 5% to 52.961 mn tons, with sales of ore concentrate up by 3% to 64.969 mn tons, of pellets up by 7% to 17.450 mn tons, of agglomerate up by 2% to 47.520 mn tons.