CIS steel production continued to decline in April

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) crude steel production declined 4.7 percent during April 2015 compared to the same month a year ago, according to the latest data released by the World Steel Association. Despite the growth in steel production in Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, the total production of the region continues to decline, mainly due to negative dynamics in Ukraine.

Total crude steel production in Belarus increased by 8.0 percent in April this year to 230 thousand tons, up from 213 thousand tons in April 2014. Kazakhstan produced 323 thousand tons of crude steel, which exceeds the output of 298 thousand tons of products by 8.4 percent, achieved during April last year. Total crude steel production in Russia increased by 3.2 percent to 6.094 million tonnes in April this year, compared to 5.902 million tonnes in April 2014.

There was a significant decline in steel production in Ukraine during April. Total steel production in Ukraine fell sharply, by 24.9 percent, to 1.928 million tonnes in April 2015, compared with an output of 2.566 million tonnes during April last year. In addition, Uzbekistan's steel production fell by 18.2 percent during the month. Moldova recorded steel production of 29,000 tons during the month, which is significantly lower compared to the previous year.

The cumulative volume of steel production in the first four months in 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 is as follows: Belarus 890 thousand tons, an increase of 16.2 percent; Kazakhstan 1,142 thousand tons, the output remained unchanged; Moldova 84 thousand tons, a decrease of 25.5 percent; Russia 24.302 thousand tons, an increase of 5.2 percent; Ukraine 7,081 thousand tons, a fall of 29.8 percent; Uzbekistan 221 thousand tons, a drop of 9.2 percent.