ARCELORMITTAL KRYVIY RIH BOOSTS ROLL OUTPUT 25.5% IN 5 MTHS

Interfax Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Tue, June 1, 2010

KYIV - ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih (formerly Kryvorizhstal), Ukraine's biggest steel producer, raised finished roll production 25.5% year-on-year to 2.224 million tonnes in January-May, the company's press office said. Crude steel production grew 36.8% to 2.581 million tonnes and pig iron - 33.2% to 2.243 million tonnes.

The plant produced 448,000 tonnes of roll, 541,900 tonnes of steel and 460,700 tonnes of pig iron in May. The company said the market was recovering, but that recovery was shaky and had slowed in the last few weeks. Production volumes will be adjusted for demand.

ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih specializes in long products, in particular rebar and wire rod. Its main markets outside the CIS are the Middle East, Europe (EU and non-EU), Algeria and other African countries. ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih reduced commercial roll production 17.2% to 4.487 million tonnes in 2009.

FOOTNOTE:  AcelorMittal is a member of the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), Washington, D.C., www.usubc.org.