KIEV, Aug. 11 - The outlook for Ukraine's steel industry is improving, even though output could fall 20%-24% in 2009.

Signs that the industry's decline is slowing were first detected in May. The latest figures from the Industrial Policy Ministry suggest the decline has bottomed out, with roll production falling 34% year-on-year to 12.354 million tons in the first half of 2009 and the same 34% to 14.579 million tons in January-July.

A ministry representative said that the latest forecast is for roll and pig iron production to fall 20% to 25.101 million tons and 24.675 million tons, respectively, and crude steel - 24% to 28.023 million tons in 2009 as a whole.