KIEV, Aug. 28 - Ukraine's steel industry raised exports 7.9% or 1.2 million tons year-on-year in the first half of 2008 to 15.9 million tons, Deputy Industrial Policy Minister Serhiy Hryschenko said at a conference of steel industry bosses chaired by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

A surge in steel prices bolstered Ukraine's forex revenue by 56.9% or $4.5 billion during the half.

The sector's output rose 53% year-on-year in current prices to UAH 83.028 billion. Output rose 4% in tonnage.