In January-July 2012 in Belarus steel output went up 2.5% from the same period of last year to 1.675 million tonnes, the National Statistics Committee told BelTA.

In the seven months the output of rolled products amounted to 1.5 million tonnes, 104.3% as against the same period of last year. As much as 134,600 tonnes of steel pipes was made (2.6% up) as well as 215,240 tonnes of unalloyed steel wire (2.4% up), 671 tonnes of alloyed steel wire (105.5%). Nearly 7,000 central heating boilers were made (101.3%).

At the same time the output of metal cord dropped to 55,600 tonnes, 97.1% as against the same period of last year. The output of radiators fell to 97.9%, with the output of structural steel assemblies for civil engineering down to 95.2% and the output of metal grid down to 97.6%.

All in all, the growth rate of metal products output in Belarus totaled 102.3% in January-July 2012, with Br22.679 trillion worth of merchandise made. In H1 2012 the growth rate stood at 101.2%, in January-May – 100.5%.

In January-July 2012 the finished goods inventory in the metallurgy industry and the manufacturing of ready-made metal products amounted to 60.8% of the average monthly output, or Br1.4 trillion. The finished stock is made up mainly of central heating boilers, radiators, and metal grid.