Ukraine reduced production of steel in the first half of 2020 7.6%
According to updated figures OP "Ukrmetallurgprom" in January-June 2020 the metallurgical enterprises of Ukraine made:
the-
the
- agglomerate of 15.74 million tonnes (99.6 percent compared to the same period 2019); the
- gross coke (6% moisture.) – 4,81 mln t (92,7%); the
- iron – 9,98 million tons (97,4%); the
- steel of 10.10 million tons (92.4 per cent); the
- rentals – of 9.03 million tonnes (95.3 per cent); the
- tubular products – of 0.41 million tonnes (70.6 per cent).
the results of the work of mining and metallurgical complex of Ukraine in the first half of the 2020 show about the ongoing crisis in the Ukrainian metallurgical industry, which is related to the overall situation in the global steel market starting in the third quarter of 2019, aggravated pandemic coronavirus COVID-19, noted in "Ukrmetallurgprom".
the Main reasons for the decline of production of main kinds of metallurgical products, along with global quarantine, remain state protectionism in the traditional for the Ukrainian steel industry countries of export, lower prices and reducing demand for steel, the presence of excess global steelmaking capacity of about 440 million tons per year, and the unchanged "tariff lawlessness" on the part of national state monopolies (JSC "Ukrzaliznytsya" GP "Administration of seaports of Ukraine," Naftogaz, etc.) and a number of destructive laws and regulations (unfounded restrictions on the import of sulphuric acid, increased rent payments for the extraction of iron ore, the attempts of increase of tariffs for electricity transmission, etc.) imposed by the Ukrainian authorities.
All of this is most acutely felt in times of global crisis, when the domestic steel industry particularly needs state support, primarily to ensure a stable and favourable tariff and tax laws, providing quality service from the public transport companies, creating the conditions for increasing investment in the real sector and the related process of growth of metal consumption as well as the protection of interests of Ukrainian manufacturers on foreign and domestic markets.
background: Ukrainian mining-metallurgical industry — leading component of the industrial complex of Ukraine, providing about 26% of foreign exchange earnings, 12% of GDP, more than 30 billion UAH of payments to the budgets of all levels (up to 2019) and about 600 thousand jobs (including related industries).