Ukrainian enterprises in January-May 2018 boosted rolled steel consumption by 10.9% year-over-year, to 1.842 million tonnes (1.661 million tonnes in January-May 2017). In January-May 2018, some 545,800 tonnes of rolled products were imported, which was 29.6% of domestic consumption, the Ukrmetprom Association has said.
In the same period of 2017, imports of rolled steel totaled 453,000 tonnes (27.3%).
“Thus, the share of the import component grew by 20.5% in the five months of 2018 amid an increase in the consumption of rolled metal in the domestic market by 10.9% compared to January-May 2017,” the association said in a press release.
Bars and rods are still prevalent the structure of the imports in the five months compared to flat-rolled products in contrast to the same period in 2017: the share of flat-rolled goods in January-May-2017 was 61.8% versus 47.2% the same period of 2018, while the share of bars and rods was 37% and 49.6%, respectively.
“First and foremost, this is due to the loss of PJSC Yenakiyeve Metallurgical Plant [in Russian-occupied Donbas], and the deficit is offset by imports,” the press release said.
Ukrainian metal companies produced 7.72 million tonnes of rolled metal in the five months of 2018 (105% compared to the same period in 2017, taking into account production in occupied Donbas in January-February-2017, or 111% without taking that territory into account), Ukrmetprom said. Of the output, about 6.43 million tonnes, or 83.2%, was exported, according to the State enterprise Information-Analytic Agency (StateAnalitInform). This roughly corresponds to the same period in 2017, when the share of exports was 83.6% (6.17 million tonnes with total rolled metal production being 7.39 million tonnes).
The share of semi-finished products in export shipments was 42.2%, which also corresponds to the period January-May 2017 (42.1%). The share of flat products (34% and 33.4%, respectively) and bars and rods (23.8% and 24.5%, respectively) are comparable with the same period of 2017.
The main export markets for Ukrainian steel products in January-May 2018, according to StateAnalitInform, were the countries of the European Union (34.8%), Africa (15.8%), other European countries, including Turkey (13.1% ), as well as countries in the Middle East (11.4%).
The main importers of metal products in the five months of 2018 were the CIS (59.6%), Asia (19.1%) and the EU’s 28 member states (15.9%).
Ukrainian metal and mining enterprises in January-April 2018 boosted rolled steel output by 1% year-over-year, to 6.072 million tonnes. According to the Ukrmetalurgprom association, if the production figures are compared, taking into account two months of operation of the enterprises in 2017 in the government uncontrolled areas (before losing control over them), steel smelting fell by 1.4%, to 6.913 million tonnes, and cast iron output grew by 8.9%, to 6.885 million tonnes.
If the production figures of enterprises in the government uncontrolled areas are not taken into account, rolled steel output grew by 8%, steel – by 5% and cast iron – by 18%.
In April 2018, Ukrainian metal companies produced 1.639 million tonnes of cast iron (98% to the previous month), 1.687 million tonnes of steep (99%) and 1.479 million tonnes of rolled steel (98%).
“A slight reduction in production of the key types of products in April compared with the previous month is linked to repair works at some facilities,” the association said.
