KIEV, Sept. 3 - Ukraine reduced steel pipe production 6.1% year-on-year in January-August to 1.719 million tons, including 208,000 tons in August, Ukrtruboprom, the Dnipropetrovsk-based pipe manufacturers association, told Interfax.

The Khartsyzsk mill, one of Ukraine's biggest producers, was mainly responsible for the overall drop in production. Production decline there is still considerable, although the gap with last year is being bridged gradually.