KIEV, June 6 - Ukraine increased production of 6%-moisture metallurgical coke by 9.9% year-on-year to 9.294 million tons in the first five months of 2008, including 1.963 million tons in May, according to preliminary figures.

Demand for coke is growing on the back of stronger demand for steel products, but there have been some difficulties with supplies of coking coal for coke plants, the head of industry association Ukrkoks, Anatoly Starovoit told Interfax.