Metal companies of Ukraine plan in October 2019 to boost steel smelting by 5.4% compared with the forecast for September, to 1.95 million tonnes from 1.85 million tonnes. According to the Ukrmetallurgprom association, the plan for October foresees growth in production of pig iron by 5.7%, to 1.85 million tonnes from 1.75 million tonnes, and growth in production of rolled steel by 3% compared with the forecast for September, to 1.7 million tonnes from 1.65 million tonnes.
The association said that 42.44 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate were produced in January-August (106% compared to the same period in 2018), 21.11 million tonnes of sinter (102%), 14.76 million tonnes of pellets (103%), 6.87 million tonnes of gross coke (96%), 13.73 million tonnes of pig iron (101%), 14.66 million tonnes of steel (105%), 12.52 million tonnes of rolled products (102%), 740,000 tonnes of pipe products (101%).
In August, 1.83 million tonnes of pig iron were produced (111% compared to July 2019), 1.94 million tonnes of steel (109%), 1.54 million tonnes of rolled metal (102%).
As of September 10, 2019, of the main existing production facilities in operation are: 18 of 21 blast furnaces, eight of nine open-hearth furnaces, 14 of 16 converters, 5 of 15 electric furnaces and 15 of 15 continuous casting machines (CCM).
In August 2019, about 2.4 million tonnes of iron ore raw materials were delivered to metal enterprises (100% compared to July 2019). There was no import of iron ore in August.
