ГІРНИЧО-МЕТАЛУРГІЙНИЙ КОМПЛЕКС УКРАЇНИ: СУЧАСНІ ТЕНДЕНЦІЇ ТА РЕЗУЛЬТАТИ

Abstract

The article analyzes the production and sales results of the enterprises of the mining and metallurgical complex of Ukraine (hereinafter MMC) in 2020, in the first quarter and for four months of 2021, as well as the preconditions that developed in 2019. It was determined that the results of production of MMC of Ukraine in 2019 were the worst for the entire period of the existence of independent Ukraine. The article analyzes the factors of ineffective work of metallurgical and mining enterprises in this period. In 2020, the situation was aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Steel production declined, while pig iron and rolled products increased marginally compared to 2019. Exports of iron ore increased by almost a quarter, which means that the success of the ore segment partially offset the difficulties in the metallurgical sector. Success factors for the ore segment of the mining and metallurgical complex of Ukraine in 2020 were: rapid recovery of China after quarantine, effective measures to support the economy by China and European countries, high demand and prices for ore, rapid recovery of business activity and low level of stocks, which led to an increase in prices for metal products. It was determined that in the first quarter of 2021 the production of pig iron, rolled products, sinter increased compared to the same indicator in 2020, but the production of coke, steel and pipes decreased. The export of the main products of the mining and metallurgical complex has grown significantly. In April 2021, there was a drop in exports of iron ore and ferrous metals compared to March, but in general, for four months of 2021, the dynamics of exports is positive. The article examines positive trends (growth in prices for iron ore raw materials, demand and prices for steel and rolled products), as well as risks and threats that have arisen in the market and which will affect the efficiency of mining and metallurgical enterprises in 2021 and in the long term (a slowdown in the growth of the Ukrainian economy and countries-consumers of mining and metallurgical products, a high level of protectionism, insufficient protection of the domestic market from imports of metal products, the need for significant investments in improving the environmental friendliness of metallurgical production and increasing environmental costs.