KIEV, April 21 - Metal consumption in Ukraine fell 53.9% to 1.1 million tons in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same period of 2008, while imports plunged 81.6% to 102,860 tons, Andriy Fedoseyev, president of the Ukrainian Metal Traders Association, told Interfax.

Fedoseyev said Ukrainian pipe mills bought 320,458 tons of locally produced and imported roll and feedstock in the quarter, down 45.5% from January-March 2008. Construction firms bought 16,509 tons, down 73%, rail producers - 5,605 tons, down 77.6%, and metalware producers - 71,357 tons, down 59.5%.