According to the data issued by the Ukrainian Association of Metal Traders, in the first quarter of 2010 the country rolled steel products consumption registered an increase of 8.8% year over year in to approximately 1.196 million tonnes.
Accordingly, in the first quarter this year Ukrainian pipe making companies increased purchases of domestic and imported rolled products by 3.2% year over year to 330,664 tonnes, local construction companies cut purchases by 36.8% year over year to 10,427 tonnes, while hardware producers raised their purchases by 55.7%year over yearto 111,081 tonnes.
Furthermore, Ukrainian steel traders including the smaller companies increased their purchases of domestic and imported rolled steel products by 14.3%year over yearto 362,768 tonnes, machine building companies raised their purchases by 72.1%year over yearto 237,182 tonnes while mining and metallurgical companies decreased their purchases by 45%year over yearto 111,135 tonnes.
