IntelliNews reported that Bulgaria's steel output rose significantly in the first 9 months of 2011 as compared to a year earlier on the back of robust growth of exports, particularly to other EU member states.

As per report, the country's crude steel output rose by 8% YoY in the first 9 months 2011 to 207,200 tonnes. While the production of flat rolled products rose by just 2% YoY during the first 9 months of 2011 to 230,000 tonnes, the output of long products picked up by 34% YoY to 612,300 tonnes.

The growing overall output of Bulgarian rolled steel products, up by 23% YoY in January to September (from 683,000 tonnes to 842,600 tonnes) has coincided with weakening domestic sales. Internal deliveries of longs in the first nine months of 2011 dipped 5% YoY to settle at 165,800 tonnes. In the same period flat product deliveries reported a sharp decline of 61% YoY to 19,200 tonnes.

The weakening domestic demand was offset by a rapid growth in exports. In the period under review Bulgaria's exports consisted of 260,500 tonnes of flat and 450,700 tonnes of long products, which represented a 43% and 46% increase respectively. EU member states accounted for 75% of the country's exports in the period as compared to 65% in 2010.

(Sourced from IntelliNews)