OREANDA-NEWS. Despite the slowdown in steel sector's output in October (9.9% in 10M2007, y/y), the impact of the current fixed investment boom should not be underestimated, Alfa Capital experts suggest. Chemicals plants, which conducted wide-scale modernization programs over the summer, are now reaping the benefits of current record global fertilizer prices, especially carbamide. The coking coal sector is also on the rebound from last year's slump due to a serious shortage of its input in the steel sector, which is likely to persist, according to the analysts. Finally, the machine-building sector is really booming having risen 11% m-o-m due to increased orders from abroad in the industry leaders. "This surprisingly positive data suggests that industrial output growth is quite likely to exceed our forecast of 7.3% growth by YE2007," the experts surmise.

Overall industrial output growth in Ukraine made up 11% in 10M2007, having accelerated compared to September 2007 data (10.7 %, y/y).