According to the Ukrainian association of metal producers Metallurgprom, in July this year Ukrainian steelmakers plan to produce 2.36 million mt of pig iron - up 17 percent , 2.67 million mt of crude steel - up 15.9 percent, and 2.29 million mt of finished steel products - up 9.5 percent, all compared to the previous month.
In June, Ukraine's average daily pig iron output decreased by 1,000 mt month on month to 67,200 mt, while over the first six months it amounted to 66,200 mt - down 35 percent year on year. Over the first 14 days of July 2009, Ukraine's average daily pig iron output increased to 76,000 mt, even rising to 80,000 mt some days, its average daily crude steel output increased by 14.2 percent compared to H1 2009 level to 85,900 mt, while the average daily output of finished steel went up by 4.8 percent compared to the H1 2009 level to 74,300 mt.
According to the Metallurgprom data, as of July 14, 29 of Ukraine's 41 blast furnaces are operating, as well as 18 of the country's 21 converters, and 19 of its 42 open hearth furnaces.