BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

12/09/2007

Belarussian plant ups steel output 4.4% in 8 mths

MINSK. Sept 12 (Interfax) - The state-owned Byelorussian Steel Works (BMZ) from the Gomel region in Belarus raised output 4.4% year- on-year in January-August to 1.54 million tonnes of steel.

The company told Interfax that it produced 1.12 million tonnes of roll, up 5.3% year-on-year. Hardware production, including bead-wire, steel wire, hose wire and steel cord, rose 16.9% to 187,200 tonnes.

Output in value rose 7.5% to 1.9 trillion Belarussian rubles.

BMZ is Belarus's biggest steel mill. It exports around 85% of its output, with more than 70% of the exports going to the CIS.

Exports in the eight months grew 38.6% year-on-year to $873.7 million.

BMZ aims to increase sales 29.5% this year as a whole to $1.4 billion. Exports could top $1 billion. Crude steel production is expected to rise 6.3% to 2.27 million tonnes.

Source:

http://www.interfax.com/3/312426/news.aspx