OREANDA-NEWS. March 19, 2008.Vyksa Steel Works  reviewed its performance in February and since the beginning of 2008.

In February, the plant produced 123,576 tonnes of various pipe grades, which is 20.3% less than in February 2007 (154,995 tonnes). The output of large-diameter pipes (LDP) was 60,627 tonnes, which is 31% less than was produced over the corresponding period of last year (87,893 tonnes). Since the beginning of the year VSW has produced 226,455 tonnes of pipes (26.2% less than in January and February of 2007 (306,660 tonnes)). 109,420 tonnes of LDP was produced in January and February, which is 36.5% less than in the corresponding period of last year (172,273 tonnes).

According to OMK President Vladimir Markin, the current reduced demand for large-diameter pipes and medium-diameter oil-and-gas pipes is due to the completed deliveries for a number of major main pipeline projects and the projects postponed by Gazprom as well as to the fact that oil and gas companies have yet to hold tenders for oil-and-gas pipe supplies for the current year. Additionally, this year will see a number of major project launched in which OMK intends to participate, including the second stage of the Baltic Pipeline System (BPS-2), Nord Stream and some others.

In February, VSW railroad-wheel rolling facility produced 67,890 railroad wheels, thereby exceeding the figures of the corresponding period of 2007 (63,736 wheels) by 6.5%. Since the beginning of the year VSW has produced 141,000 wheels, which is 12.6% more than in January and February of 2007 (125,200 wheels).