OREANDA-NEWS. Mariupol Illich Steelworks has taken its blast furnaces off-line due to disturbances in coke supplies from Russia. In particular,  blast furnace №4 was put down last week, a financial research center Millennium Capital reports. During the dead time, preventative maintenance of the blast furnaces takes place. The steelworks' daily production dropped 13% or 2000 tonnes of pig iron.

Over September 2007, the steelworks is to produce 14000 tonnes of pig iron, as opposed to its normal daily output of 16000 tonnes, so this incidental coke shortage will cost 1% of yearly pig iron output. According to MMKI's press center, the coke supply deterioration is temporary and it is expected to be fixed in October. Nevertheless, the news is likely to have a negative effect on the stock price as it shows MMKI's vulnerablility regarding coke supplies.