KIEV, Nov. 9 - Ukrainian companies plan to increase steel production by 4.6% to 36.5 million tons in 2012 from what is expected in 2011, Vasyl Kharakhulakh, the head of the Metallurgprom industry association, said at a meeting with representatives of Ukraine's mining and metals companies in Dnipropetrovsk on Wednesday.

Production is expected to increase by 3-4% to 30 million tons of pig iron, and 4.7-5.3% to 33.5 million-33.7 million tons of rolled steel products.

These are preliminary figures based on information that steel companies have reported to Metallurgprom, Kharakhulakh said.

Ukraine is forecast to produce about 29 million tons of pig iron, 34.9 million tons of steel and 32 million tons of rolled products.