According to the data released by Belarus' National Statistical Committee, in the first four months of 2009 the country registered a 1.9 percent increase in its crude steel production, a 5.7 percent rise in its finished steel product output, but a 48.3 percent decrease in its steel pipe output year on year. The respective figures in metric tons were 906,000, 864,300 and 30,800.
During the period in question, Belarus' output of wire rod went down by 6.8 percent to 27,900 mt, while its steel cord production decreased by 2.9 percent to 31,000 mt, both compared with January-April 2008.