BEIJING, Oct. 13 - Steel consumption in Ukraine will contract by 50.8%, to 3.413 million tons in 2009, the World Steel Association announced at the 43rd WSA annual conference that is being held on Oct. 12-14 in Beijing.

The group says that steel consumption in Ukraine in 2010 will grow by 9.7%, to 3.744 million tons against the forecasted consumption level in 2009.

The report says that in 2008 consumption went down by 16.5% in Ukraine year-over-year, to 6.936 million tons.

In the CIS, steel consumption this year is expected to fall by 30.8%, to 33.852 million tons. Steel consumption in the CIS in 2010 is predicted to rise by 8.2%, to 36.638 million tons. In 2008, steel consumption fell by 13.5%, to 48.946 million tons.