OREANDA-NEWS. On January 29, 2014 the top team of ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih met with over 20 representatives of 7 leading Ukrainian steel distributors who are the trade partners of the company. The management of the plant and the customers have discussed the company's results in 2013, market conditions, the model for partnership with the customers of domestic market in 2014.

The leaders of trade companies have shared their opinions of special points within products sales on the current market conditions and have given their ideas of improving of the partnership with ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih. The customers assessed positively the plant's changes in service, marketing and sales of products in 2013.

Last year ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih had opened new sales offices in Ukraine (Lviv and Donetsk) as well as in Russia and Azerbaijan, and also three own warehouses of finished products in Kyiv, Odesa and Vilne village of Kryvyi Rih region oriented for domestic market of Ukraine. Also last year the marketing and sales team has improved customer service processes, speeding up the processing of documents, cut delivery time of products to customers. Besides the plant has mastered production of new steel grades with better qualities, enhanced product mix, deployed a new packing line for angle 'lock joint' in line with customer requirements. The truck shipment volumes of finished products for customers have been increased almost in one third, reducing turnaround and positively impacting logistics costs.

Anastasiya Tatarulieva, Director for Sales in Ukraine and CIS of ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih: “In 2013 the prices continued to decline in global market, however rate of decline slowed down compared with 2011-2012. Despite of the fact that in 2013 the consumption of rolled products fell by 0.5 m tonnes in the domestic market compared with 2012, our steel plant managed to rump up sales in Ukraine and CIS. The substantial share of domestic sales of our products goes through our distributors. 2014 is expected to be rather tough, just like the previous year. Therefore, it is important that we deliver to our trade partners a good service, skillfully manage risks and maintain our market share in Ukraine. We aim to create the qualitative distribution model, i.e. the system and the structure that will ensure the presence of our products in every target point, with the right product mix, at the right price and proper time”.