Ukrainian steel imports almost triple in 2 months

According to the data released by metal trading enterprise Ukrainian Mining and Metallurgical Company (UGMK), in the first two months of 2010 Ukrainian imports of steel products amounted to about 176,500 tons, almost triple the volume for the same period last year.

UGMK noted that in January to February the share of tubular billets in the overall steel imports to Ukraine increased from 22.8% YoY to 30.1%, the share of HRC went up from 12.1% to 27.9%, the share of rounds rose from 7% to 10.9% while the share of galvanized steel increased from 5.3% to 10%. These increases are due to the significant drop in rebar imports as well as due to the YoY decreases of the shares of pipes and CRC in Ukraine total volume of steel imports, from 14.6% to 4.8% and from 9.4% to 5.3% respectively.
In February the biggest share in overall steel imports to Ukraine was held by tubular billets followed by HRC, rounds, and galvanized steel.

Imports of steel products, tons

Product	February 2010	January 2010	Change, %
Rebar	1426	2060	-30.78
Beam	754	542	39.11
Wire rod	385	1,743	-77.91
Rounds	10,039	9,276	8.23
HRC	22,605	26,711	-15.37
Galvanized steel	9,146	8,468	8.01
CRC	4,856	4,577	6.10
Pipes	5,387	3,148	71.12
Angles	445	43	934.88
Channel	41	76	-46.05
Tubular billet	33,811	19,291	75.27
Other	6,947	4,708	47.56
Total	95,841	80,644	18.84

Product	January-February 2010	January-February 2009	Change, %
Rebar	3,486	14,942	-76.67
Beam	1,296	243	433.33
Wire rod	2,128	532	300.00
Rounds	19,314	4,214	358.33
HRC	49,316	7,216	583.43
Galvanized steel	17,614	3,144	460.24
CRC	9,433	5,573	69.26
Pipes	8,536	8,698	-1.86
Angles	488	330	47.88
Channel	117	116	0.86
Tubular billet	53,102	13,562	291.55
Other	11,656	846	1277.78
Total	176,485	59,415	197.04

UGMK said in January to February main Ukrainian importer of steel was the pipe sector, which increased its share of overall steel imports into the country to 46.6% from 27.8% for January to February 2009, while the machine-building sector saw its share of overall imports rising to 18.7% compared to 15.6% in the same period last year. Meanwhile, the local metal trade sector saw a decrease in its share of steel imports to 15.4% down from 35.4% in the first two months of 2009. (SteelOrbis)