Ukraine’s exports of pig iron decreased by 17pc to 2.35mn mt in Jan-Nov 2019 compared with the same period in 2018 due to lower demand and unattractive prices according to the country’s State Fiscal Service data.
During this period, 59pc of Ukraine’s pig iron exports were shipped to the US, followed by Italy and Turkey that imported 13pc and 9pc, respectively. Ukraine exported only 350,000mt of pig iron in November 2019.
Around 18.46mn mt of pig iron was produced in Ukraine during the first 11 months of 2019 rising slightly from 18.43mn mt produced during the same prior-year period, according to Ukrmetprom, an association of Ukraine miners and pig iron producers. For the fully year 2019, production decreased marginally to 20.05mn mt compared with 20.56mn mt in 2018.
According to worldsteel, Ukraine is among the top 10 pig iron producers in the world. China was ranked as the top pig iron producer after producing 739mn mt during the Jan-Nov 2019 period, with India (101mn mt); Japan (69mn mt); Russia (46mn mt); and South Korea (44mn mt), rounding off the top five pig iron producers in the world.