In January-September of this year, Ukrtruboprom’s enterprises increased pipe production by 5% year-on-year to 376.1 thousand tons.
According to the association on Friday, in January of this year, about 30 thousand tons of pipe products were produced (44.9% compared to January-2022), in February – 39.5 thousand tons (80.4% compared to February-2022). In February, the company produced 57 thousand tons (1631.4% compared to March 2022), in March – 57 thousand tons (1631.4% compared to March 2022), in April – 42.3 thousand tons (228.6% compared to April 2022), in May – 49.6 thousand tons (96.5% compared to May 2022), in June – 35 thousand tons (67.8% compared to June 2022).
In July, the company produced 43.9 thousand tons of pipes (up 12% compared to July-2022), in August – 41.8 thousand tons (14.5%), in September – 36.9 thousand tons (down 10.2%).
At the same time, it is noted that for 9 months of 2023, pipe companies have demonstrated multidirectional dynamics. In particular, Interpipe Nico Tube and Ukrtruboizol II increased production of seamless pipes by 8.8% and 26.2%, respectively, while Trubostal reduced production by 54.5%. “Centravis increased its production of stainless pipes by 12.9%, while Interpipe NMTZ decreased its production of SAW pipes by 62.9%. Oscar’s pipe production decreased by 25%.
Georgiy Polskiy, CEO of Ukrtruboprom, noted that in the first nine months of the year, the Ukrainian pipe industry showed positive dynamics despite the constant shelling of production sites located in the frontline areas, particularly in Nikopol. The plants are investing in employee safety, for example, by placing mobile protective units on the territory of the workshops where people can hide from the bombardment. In addition, the problem of stable water supply to pipe production facilities remains unresolved after the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam was blown up and the Kakhovka reservoir was shallowed.
“The blockade of the Ukrainian-Polish border, which began in early November, was a real stab in the back for Ukrainian exporters, particularly steel pipes. The European direction is the only one left for our business after the start of a large-scale war. Many trucks with pipes are still stuck in traffic, and all delivery deadlines to European customers have been disrupted. But there is a threat that the strike will spread to other Eastern European countries. If this happens, almost all pipe plants located in the frontline regions will have to shut down production facilities from mid-December,” the CEO emphasized.
As reported, Ukrtruboprom’s enterprises increased pipe production by 5.9% to 126.5 thousand tons in the first quarter. In the first half of the year, they increased pipe production by 5% to 253.5 thousand tons.
In 2022, Ukrtruboprom’s enterprises reduced pipe production by 37.9% compared to 2021, to 449.7 thousand tons. Last year, all plants showed negative dynamics. “Interpipe Nico Tube and Trubostal reduced production of seamless pipes by 31.1% and 61.6%, respectively, Centravis – stainless pipes by 38.3%, Interpipe NMTZ – electric-welded pipes by 67.1%. Production of pipes at Oscar fell by 20%, and only Ukrtruboizol, the second largest producer of pipes, reached the level of the year before last. Dnipropetrovs’k Pipe Plant is idle and in the process of liquidation.
