DNIPROPETROVSK, Aug. 13 - Some of Ukraine's biggest steel mills have sent a letter to Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, expressing their concern over a drop in demand for steel in the world markets.

Deputy Industrial Policy Minister Volodomyr Severnyuk said at a meeting of steel industry bosses in Dnipropetrovsk that the Illich, Azovstal, Zaporizhstal, Alchevsk and Makiyivka steel mills had signed the letter.

"They say they might have to stop their rolling mills owing to the drop in demand," Severnyuk said, recalling that similar situations had arisen in the past.