On updated data OP "Ukrmetallurgprom" in 2019 the mining and metallurgical enterprises of Ukraine was smelted 20,848 million tons of steel, which is 1.2% less than in 2018. In early January reported that, according to preliminary data, steel production in the country was 20.82 million tons of steel, 1.3% less than in 2018.
the Revised data OP "Ukrmetallurgprom" shows that in 2019 the production of main kinds of ferrous metallurgy products in Ukraine decreased by 1 – 3% compared to the 2018. In particular manufacturing:
- iron ore concentrate amounted to 63,08 million tons (104,6% compared to the same period in 2018);
- sinter – 30,91 million tons (97,6%);
- pellet – 20,76 million tons (97,2%);
- gross coke (6% moisture.) – To 10.06 million tonnes (92,9%);
- iron – of 20.06 million tons (97,6%);
- steel – of 20.85 million tons (98,8%);
- rental – 18,20 million tons (99,1%);
- tubular products – 1,005 million tonnes (91.2 per cent).
as of January 15, 2020, from the current major production facilities are in operation: 16 out of the 21 blast furnaces, 8 open hearth furnaces of 9, 11 of the 16 converters, 5 of the 15 furnaces and 15 of 15 machinery billet continuous casting.
the Association noted that in 2019, the Ukrainian enterprises of the metallurgical industry has considerably increased the share of domestic coal in their purchases. At the same time it is reported that in the past year significantly increased the exports of steel braid and iron ore. The share of imported coke in the total supply in 2019 amounted to 4.4% compared to 3.3% in 2018
In 2019, Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises reduced natural gas consumption by 2% to around 1.8 billion cubic meters and 5% reduced energy consumption by up to 11.2 billion kWh.
President OP "Ukrmetallurgprom" Oleksandr Kalenkov said that for the near future expectations of the market is rather pessimistic.
In 2019, the share of exports increased due to the fall in the domestic market by 12%. In 2018, the year the capacity of the domestic market amounted to 5.3 million tonnes in 2019 - 4.7 million tons.
"the Question is not only current prices but also in the projections for 2020. It can be expected that the demand will continue," said Kalenkov.
Previously coalsalesthat the largest Ukrainian manufacturer of metal products Netherlands mining and metallurgical holding Metinvest B.V. expects growth in steel demand in Ukraine is 3%. The company Rinat Akhmetov's consider two scenarios: the transition of the crisis on the steel market or in a protracted transition of the metallurgical industry to the recovery and growth early in the summer.
