Ukrmetallurgprom predicts steel production growth by 3.4% in September

According to Ukrmetallurgprom, production of steel is expected to grow by 3.4%, up to 1.8 million tons, in September compared to the same period a year earlier.

In September, production of steel is expected to increase by 1.7%, up to 1.7 million tons, and rolled products — by 8.6%, up to 1.7 million tons, compared to the same month in 2018.

In his turn, Dmytro Khoroshun, analyst at Concorde Capital investment company, predicts an up to 3% growth in steel production in 2019.

“If foreign markets are not sufficiently affected, I expect steel production to be within the range of 20.7 to 21.7 million tons in 2019, i.e. -2% to +3% year-over-year. Such wide range results from the uncertainty about the outputs at Azovstal (how long will it take them to repair the pig iron mixer?) and Arcelormittal Kryvyi Rih (how long will their equipment stay idle due to the inspections?),” Dmytro Khoroshun commented to GMK Center.

As reported earlier, in January to July, mining & metals companies of Ukraine increased production of steel by 4%, to 12.7 million tons, and rolled products — by 2%, to 10.9 million tons, compared to the same period a year earlier. Pig iron production fell by 0.2%, down to 11.9 million tons, compared to the first seven months of 2018.

At the same time, Ukrainian steelmakers increased consumption of natural gas by 3% in January to July.