KIEV, June 15 – Ukrainian metals companies in 2009 are expected to cut steel output by 18-22% year-over-year, to 28.9-30.4 million tons, according to Phoenix Capital Investment Company.

The company’s specialists said that the average steel production in H2 would come to 82,500-88,500 tons, 10-16% higher than May. The basis for the forecast is the low prices of raw materials, the high level of vertical integration of the Ukrainian metals sector and the appearance of stability on the international metals products markets, reads the company's report.