Steel production in the CIS continues to decline

Steel production in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) declined 6.8 percent during the month of September on an annualized basis, according to the latest data released by the World Steel Association.

At the same time, total crude steel production in Belarus increased by 46.6 percent in September this year and reached 220 thousand tons, up from 150 thousand tons in September 2013. Kazakhstan produced 310 thousand tons of steel, which is 0.6 percent higher compared to the production of 308 thousand tons achieved in September 2013. Moldova smelted 35 thousand tons of steel during the month. Total steel production in Russia rose 6.0 percent to 5.900 million tonnes in September this year, up from 5.568 million tonnes in September 2013.

However, the negative overall production result in the CIS was due to the decline in steel production in Ukraine during September. Steel production in Ukraine has dropped sharply. The fall was 37.0 percent to 1,700 million tons in September 2014, compared with an output of 2,700 million tons in September last year. In addition, Uzbekistan's steel production fell 2.2 percent during the month.

The total volume of steel production in the first nine months of 2014 in one thousand tons compared to the same period in 2013 was: Belarus 1871 (+4.0), Kazakhstan 2682 (+14.5), Moldova 307 (+303.4) , Russia 53406 (+3.1), Ukraine 21403 (-14.2), Uzbekistan 579 (-0.3).