Daily monitor

In June 2008, Khartsyzsk Tube Works [HRTR UZ, Sell] reduced output 50% MoM to 21 thsd metric tons of pipes.

Slavutych [SLAV UZ, BUY], a Ukrainian beer producer, formerly affiliated with the Baltic Beverage Holding (BBH), became a part of the international holding Carlsberg.

Ukraine’s Minister of Finance Viktor Pinzenyk announced that profits of the State Budget general fund are exceeded by UAH 8.3 bln in 1H08.

Nikopol Ferroalloys [NFER UZ, N/R] reduced output 2.8% YoY to 530 thsd metric tons in 1H2008 and produced 82 thsd metric tons of ferroalloys in June.

Azovstal [AZST UZ, BUY] reported in an official press release that it has obtained the Russian Federation ISO R 9001-2001 quality control certificate.

The Russian Federation is reportedly considering introducing either quotas or duties for coking coal exports.

Dniprovsky Iron & Steel Works named after Dzerzhinsky, or simply Dzerzhynka [DMKD UZ, BUY], was given a 49-year lease for a 24 ha land plot, to be used for construction of a power and heat plant.

During 1H08, Alchevsk ISW [ALMK UZ, BUY] increased rolled products output 42.7% to 2.406 mln mt.

Alchevsk ISW [ALMK UZ, BUY] plans to launch the 3 mln mt oxygen converter No. 2 in August.

In 1H08, Ukraine increased its production of steel by 4% to 22.2 mln mt and of coke by 10% to 11.2 mln mt, but decreased its output of pipes by 10% to 1.27 mln mt.