KIEV, Jan. 24 - Poltava Mining, Ukraine's biggest producer of iron ore pellets, increased production of iron ore by 9%, or 28.934 million tons, in 2007.

Production of iron ore concentrate rose 10% to 10.652 million tons, and pellet production grew 6% to 9.072 million tons, including 5.372 million tons of pellets with 62% iron and 3.701 million tons with 65% iron, the company said in a press release.

Poltava produced 8.793 million tons of pellets from its own ore and concentrate, including 5.092 million tons with 62% iron and 3.701 million tons with 65% iron, respectively 8%, 1% and 19% more than in the previous year.