Ukraine loses 30% of steelmaking capacity to war - Metinvest

WEDNESDAY, 30 MARCH 2022, 09:05

Ukrainian steelmakers' losses from the war initiated by Russia amount to 30-40% of their pre-war capacity.

This was announced by Yurii Ryzhenkov, general director of the largest Ukrainian mining and metallurgical company Metinvest, broadcast on the TV channel Ukraine 24, reports Interfax-Ukraine.

"The Mariupol plants represent more than a third of Ukraine's steel production. In other words, Ukraine has now lost about 30-40% of its steel-making capacity," he said.

Ryzhenkov is confident that the Mariupol plants will definitely be rebuilt after Russian troops are driven out of Ukrainian territory. 

"I have no doubts that they will resume operation, but for that the city must remain Ukrainian," the Metinvest head said.

According to him, the two steel mills are now under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Mariupol defenders.

"In 2021, Metinvest increased steel smelting by 15% compared to 2020 to 9.53 million tonnes, and cast iron also by 15% to 9.71 million tonnes.

"Azovstal" (Mariupol) increased production of rolled products in 2021 by 4.1% to 4.1 million tonnes, steel production rose by 3.5% to 4.34 million tonnes, while cast iron output remained unchanged from the previous year at 3.8 million tonnes, according to operational data.

The Ilyich Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol increased its output of total rolled products in 2021 by 11.6% to 4.1 million tonnes, steel by 4.6% to 4.26 million tonnes, and cast iron by 8.3% to 5.06 million tonnes, according to operational data.