KIEV, Dec. 5 - Ukraine's steel industry could reduce output at least 25%-30% in 2009, Volodomyr Boiko, general director of Illich Iron & Steel Works, one of the country's biggest producers, told Interfax.

"Forecasts that production will fall 10%-15%-20% are not right, I can already see that in December. January and February will be very difficult - I can see that, too. The upturn [on the steel market] that we saw in November was short-lived and has come to a halt. Things might liven up, but not until March, because many have idled blast furnaces now," Boiko said.