Metals and Mining

Ukrainian News reported on pipe production for July. It amounted to 161.3 thsd mt. This is up 13% MoM, but still 23% below the average 2008 monthly output of 208.8 thsd mt.

Interfax-Ukraine and Ukrainian News reported on production volumes of Ukraine’s Metallurgy & Mining Complex. The data is preliminary, and often differs slightly from the numbers that will become available in a few days.

Metal Courier reported preliminary data on July crude steel production in Ukraine.

Kommersant-Ukraine reported that one of the two strategic shareholders of Zaporizhstal [ZPST UZ, U/R], the so-called Zakhid-Reserv Group, aims to consolidate 96.6% of the company. Reportedly, Zakhid-Reserv will buy out the Midland Group’s stake using a Swiss company named Airol Beteiligungen AG, which has recently obtained a permission to consolidate more than 50% of Zaporizhstal.

Ukrainian News reported on iron, crude steel, and rolled products production for June and 1H09.

Ukrainian News reported on pipes production for June, which amounted to 142.8 thsd mt. This is up 7% MoM, but still 32% below the average 2008 monthly output of 208.8 thsd mt.

Metal Courier reported that the two steelmakers owned by Industrial Union of Donbas (IUD), Alchevsk ISW [ALMK UZ, U/R] and Dzerzhynka [DMKD UZ, U/R], will stop importing Russian iron ore materials and switch back to purchasing source materials at the domestic market.

Ukrainian News reported on coke production for June, which amounted to 1.36 mln mt. This is down -4% MoM, 17% below the average 2008 monthly output of 1.63 mln mt, and 21% below the average 2007 monthly reading of 1.72 mln mt.

The Enakievo ISW group [ENMZ UZ, U/R], which includes OJSC Enakievo Iron & Steel Works, may extend the construction of Blast Furnace No. 3 until 4Q10, according to Metal Courier. The plans announced in April by Metinvest Holding called for completion in 2Q10.

Interfax-Ukraine and Ukrainian News reported on production volumes of Ukraine’s Metallurgy & Mining Complex. The data is preliminary, and often differs slightly from the numbers that will become available in a few days.