In January-July this year, Ukrainian Coke and Chemical Plants (CCP) reduced the production of gross coke with 6% moisture content by 53.4% compared to the same period last year, to 2.682 million tons.
At the same time, 224.4 thousand tons of gross coke were produced in July, including 191.8 thousand tons of metallurgical coke, Anatoly Starovoit, general director of the association of coke enterprises Ukrkoks (Dnepr), told Interfax-Ukraine.
According to him, for 7 months-2022, the production of metallurgical coke amounted to 2.3 million tons.
At present, Yuzhkoks, Kametstal (former DKHZ), DMZ (Dneprokoks), Zaporizhkoks and coke production at ArcelorMittal Krivoy Rog are operating, where coke oven batteries No. 1 and 2 are in operation.
The CEO also said that in 7 months-2022, 2.94 million tons of coal concentrate were supplied to domestic CCP, including 1.63 million tons of Ukrainian production, 622.9 thousand tons were imported from the Russian Federation (before the war), from Kazakhstan (before the war) – 65.4 thousand tons, Poland – 29.1 thousand tons, Czech Republic – 38.8 thousand tons, USA – 428.8 thousand tons and Australia – 126 thousand tons.
As reported, Ukraine in 2021 reduced the production of coke by 1.3% compared to 2020, to 9.543 million tons.
Ukraine in January-April this year reduced the export of coke and semi-coke by 97.2% compared to the same period last year, to 2,532 tonnes.
According to statistics published by the State Customs Service (STS), in monetary terms, the export of coke and semi-coke over this period fell by 97%, to $758,000.
At the same time, the main exports were to Georgia (43.54% of supplies in monetary terms), Hungary (34.83%) and Turkey (21.64%).
Ukraine in January-April 2022 imported 233,003 tonnes of coke and semi-coke, which is 2.6 times more compared to January-April 2021. In monetary terms, imports increased 5.1 times, to $117.023 million. Coke was mainly imported from the Russian Federation (64.76% of deliveries in monetary terms), the Czech Republic (18.56%) and Poland (10.66%).
As reported, in 2021, Ukraine increased the export of coke and semi-coke in quantity terms by 3.3 times compared to 2020, to 194,535 tonnes. In monetary terms, the export of coke and semi-coke over this period increased 4.8 times, to $41.838 million. The products were mainly exported to Kazakhstan (29.03% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (20.06%) and Algeria (15.77%).
Ukraine last year imported 789,903 tonnes of coke and semi-coke, which is 2.1 times more compared to 2020. In monetary terms, imports increased 4.3 times, to $351.238 million. The products were mainly imported from the Russian Federation (65.48% of supplies in monetary terms), the Czech Republic (20%) and Poland (8.45%).
Due to hostilities in eastern Ukraine, a number of mines and coking plants occurred in territories temporarily not controlled by Ukraine.
“Metinvest”, the largest Ukrainian mining and metallurgical holding, in January-March of this year, reduced steel production by 8% compared to the same period last year, and by 25% compared to the previous quarter – to 1.962 million tons, n pig iron – by 15% and 31%, to 1.828 million tons, the total production of coke – by 33% and 28%, respectively, to 783 thousand tons.
According to a press release from parent company Metinvest B.V. on operating results for the first quarter of 2022, in January-March of this year, the group reduced the total production of iron ore concentrate (IOR) by 3% compared to the same period last year and by 10% quarter-on-quarter to 2.786 million tons, pellets by 35% and increased by 34%, respectively – up to 1.281 million tons, the total production of coking coal concentrate – increased by 29% and reduced by 14%, respectively, to 1.276 million tons.
As reported, according to the results of 2021, Metinvest increased steel production by 15% compared to 2020 – up to 9.533 million tons, pig iron – also by 15%, up to 9.709 million tons, but reduced the total production of coke by 5% – to 4.551 million tons. In 2021, Metinvest increased the total production of iron ore concentrate (IRO) by 3% compared to the previous year – up to 31.341 million tons, pellets by 18% – up to 5.811 million tons and the total production of coking coal concentrate – by 92%, up to 5.542 million tons.
Metinvest is a vertically integrated mining group of companies that manages assets in every link of the production chain from iron ore and coal mining and coke production to the production of semi-finished products and finished products from steel, pipes and coils, as well as the production of other high value-added products. The group consists of mining and metallurgical enterprises located in Ukraine, Europe and the USA, has a sales network covering all key global markets.
Metinvest’s main shareholders are the SCM group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%), which jointly manage the company.
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of the Metinvest group.
Ukraine in January-September of this year increased exports of coke and semi-coke in quantity terms by 6.3 times compared to the same period last year, to 184,827 tonnes.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service, in monetary terms, exports of coke and semi-coke increased 13.1 times over this period, to $39.587 million.
At the same time, the products were mainly exported to Kazakhstan (30.68% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (17.45%) and Algeria (16.67%).
Over nine months, Ukraine imported 479,897 tonnes of coke and semi-coke, which is 76.2% more compared to January-September 2020. In monetary terms, imports increased 3.2 times, to $185.362 million.
The products were mainly imported from Russia (62.86% of supplies in monetary terms), the Czech Republic (18.72%) and Poland (12.28%).
PrJSC Dniprovsky Metallurgical Plant (DMZ, formerly Evraz-DMZ), a member of DCH Steel of the DCH group of businessman Oleksandr Yaroslavsky, has completed the first stage of overhaul of coke oven battery No. 4, which will reduce emissions of air pollutants.
According to the company’s press release on Thursday, the total investment is about UAH 170 million.
As part of the investment project, 20 coking chambers were repaired at the DMZ coke-chemical site. Repaired furnaces do not lose coke oven gas – all of it goes for treatment. Due to the sealing of the refractory masonry, the elimination of leaks into the heating system from the coking chambers and more complete combustion of gas in verticals, emissions of pollutants will decrease.
The press service also said that the excess of coke oven gas, which may be formed during the commissioning period, will be sent to the afterburner, the work of which is fully consistent with the technological process. The repair of the rest of the coking chambers will continue at the operating battery, and it is planned to complete it by the end of the year.
“DMZ is systematically engaged in the modernization of fixed assets at the coke-chemical site. In addition to the overhaul of coke oven battery No. 4, this year, ceramic surfacing is being carried out at coke oven battery No. 1 and coke oven battery No. 2 with sealing of heating walls. In general, this will increase the efficiency of the furnaces and significantly reduce the burden on the environment,” Director General of the DMZ Vitaliy Bash said.
At the same time, it is recalled that since 2016, DMZ has invested UAH 475 million in environmental programs. During this time, the company has reduced air emissions by almost 25%. Now the enterprise has an investment program in the amount of $400 million, aimed at modernizing production facilities and reducing the burden on the environment.
DMZ specializes in the production of steel, cast iron, rolled products and products from them.
Ukrainian coke plants in January-July of this year increased the production of metallurgical coke with a 6% moisture content by 2% compared to the same period last year, to 5.749 million tonnes.
The Ukrkoks association of coke and chemical enterprises (Dnipro) told Interfax-Ukraine that in July 826,000 tonnes of coke were produced.
The director general of Ukrkoks, Anatoliy Starovoit, told Interfax-Ukraine that the enterprises continue to work at the request of metallurgical plants, satisfying them with coke in full, taking into account imports.
According to him, coke chemical plants are provided with coking coal for production programs.
According to Ukrkoks, in 2020 coke plants reduced the production of metallurgical coke with a 6% moisture content by 3.9% compared to 2019, to 9.66 million tonnes. The enterprises were supplied with 27.2% of domestic coal and concentrate and 72.8% of imports. In general, 3.618 million tonnes of raw coal and concentrate of domestic production were supplied to the coke plants over the year, some 9.675 million tonnes were imported. In general, 13.293 million tonnes of coal were supplied to the plants, including 5.202 million tonnes imported from the Russian Federation, 3.523 million tonnes from the United States and Canada, 873,300 tonnes from Kazakhstan, and 76,000 tonnes from Poland.
