As of June 17, 2009, the capacity utilization of Ukrainian steelmakers amounted to 58.8 percent, director of the state monitoring and consulting company Ukrpromzovnishexpertyza, Vladimir Vlasyuk, has stated during a meeting on mining and metallurgical industry issues.
According to Mr. Vlasyuk, the low level of capacity utilization, as well as the low prices for steel in the world market, has led to minimal profitability of the Ukrainian steel producers and to the increase of their accounts payable. The main problems of the Ukrainian steel producers are the high production costs of steel products, and also the low demand which forces the producers to reduce their prices, added Mr. Vlasyuk.