Ukrainian crude steel output to increase by 3% in 2011

Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported that the Ukrainian monitoring and consulting company Ukrpromzovnishexpertyza had forecast a 3-3.5% YoY growth in Ukrainian crude steel output in 2011 to about 34 million tons. In 2010 the country crude steel production is expected to amount to 32.5 million tons, up by 9.2% YoY.
Mr. Vladimir Vlasyuk, Ukrpromzovnishexpertyza director, said "As a result of the 2008-2009 crisis, Ukraine was pushed back by 10 years in terms of crude steel production with the maximum level of steel output in 2007 amounting to nearly 43 million tons, in the crisis years of 2008-2009 the output declined by more than 30%, to 30 million tons."
Mr. Vlasyuk also noted the low capacity utilization level of the Ukrainian steelmaking facilities in the current year; now it is about 73% but for the full year will be at about 70%, whereas globally this figure is expected to reach about 77%. (Interfax-Ukraine)