Platts reported that Ukraine Khartsyzsk Pipe Plant decreased its monthly output of heavyweight pipes by 23% in June due to an increase in the production of lightweight pipes.

Khartsyzsk produced 43,530 tonnes of large-diameter steel pipes in June, down from 56,520 tonnes in May but up from 21,000 tonnes in June 2008. The output decreased as the company started production of lightweight pipes with diameter of 720 mm and wall thickness of 8 mm, while in May it produced heavyweight pipes with diameter of 1,067 mm and wall thickness of 15.9 mm.

Khartsyzsk produced 302,680 tonnes of pipes in the first six months of the year up from 131,400 tonnes produced in January to June 2008.

Khartsyzsk owned by Ukraine's largest steel and mining group Metinvest is the biggest producer of large diameter pipes for oil and gas pipelines in the CIS. It has an annual production capacity of 1.6 million tonnes of steel pipes.

(Sourced from Platts)