OREANDA-NEWS. According to the preliminary data, in January-October 2006 Ukrainian coke-and-chemical enterprises have reduced manufacture of coke by 0,4 % to 15,723 million tons in comparison with the same period of 2005.

According to the Interfax-Ukraine, in October 2006, 1,585 million tons of coke was made.

The general director of association of coke-and-chemical enterprises “Ukrkoks” (Dnepropetrovsk) Anatoly Starovojt noted on Thursday that a principal cause of decrease in coke production is shortage of coked coal. According to him, deficiency of coked coal has become aggravated in the second half-year and demand exceeds the offer for the time being.

Starovojt also ascertained that import of coked coal and coke is now growing. At the same time extraction of coked coal in Ukraine is insufficient.

In 2005, Ukrainian coke-and-chemical enterprises have reduced manufacture of coke by 14,3 % to 18,858 million tons in comparison with 2004.