DNIPROPETROVSK, Feb. 10 - Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises in 2010 saw a pretax loss of UAH 3-3.5 billion, the director general of the Metalurgprom union (Dnipropetrovsk), Vasyl Kharakhulakh, has said at a meeting of the mining and smelting complex representatives in Dnipropetrovsk.

According to him, in 2009 the enterprises saw a pretax loss of UAH 4.5 billion.

The director noted that the metallurgical industry is in a difficult state because of the high prices of raw materials.

"Significant changes for the better are not expected," said Kharakhulakh.