KIEV, April 25 - Demand for rolled metal products in Ukraine fell 2.9% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2012 to 1.693 million tons, Ukrainian Mining and Metallurgical Company, a major metals trader, reported.

"We estimate the Ukrainian market for rolled metal products amounted to 1.693 million tons in the first three months of 2012, which is 2.9% less than in the same period of 2011. The secondary (trader) market increased by 2% compared to the first three months of 2011 and amounted to 436,200 tons. In the second quarter we expect an increase in demand from the construction segment and growth of the metals trading market of up to 3%," the company's deputy CEO for sales, Vitaliy Kliuchnik said.

Company CEO Mladen Peikovich said the trader increased sales of rolled metal products by 58%, to 93,900 tons in the first quarter of 2012.