Scrap metal trade in Ukraine decreased in January 2015

According to the latest trade statistics, exports and imports of steel scrap from Ukraine fell during the month of January this year.

In January 2015, the export of steel scrap from the country amounted to 40701 tons. At the same time, exports fell sharply compared to the same month a year earlier, when exports of scrap metal from Ukraine totaled 62,521 tons in January 2014. The drop on an annualized basis reached 34.9 percent.

The total volume of export of scrap metal in monetary terms amounted to 11,827 thousand dollars, which is 40.5 less compared to the previous year. The export value of steel scrap for Ukraine generated 19,877 thousand dollars in January 2014.

Meanwhile, the country's imports of scrap metal totaled 251 tons, down 98.1 percent when compared with imports during the same month last year, when the country imported 13,210 tons of scrap metal in January 2014. The imported volumes in monetary terms had a sharp decrease in value in January 2015. This drop was 91.5 percent during the month to $ 390 thousand.

Last year, metals, agricultural products and grain were the main export items from Ukraine. The country imported mainly fuel, machinery, equipment and chemical products, the statistics office said in a statement.