УКРАЇНА НА СВІТОВОМУ РИНКУ ЧОРНИХ МЕТАЛІВ

Анотація

Виконано діагностику конкурентного середовища України на світовому ринку чорних металів. Визначено головні тенденції зміни обсягів експорту чорних металів вітчизняними підприємствами. Виявлено головні чинники, що обумовлюють тенденції світового металургійного виробництва, та перешкоди, які стримують розвиток металургійної галузі України та знижують її конкуренто­спроможність на світових ринках чорних металів.

Ключові слова: світовий ринок чорних металів; металургійне виробництво; конкурентне середовище.

Diagnostics of Ukraine’s competitive environment at the world’s ferrous metals market were performed were performed. The main trends identified in changing export volumes for ferrous metals of domestic enterprises. Discovered primary factors that determines trends of world steel production and obstacles constraining to the development of the steel industry in Ukraine and reduce its competitiveness at the world’s ferrous metals market.

Object of research is the implementation process of export activity by Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises. In this context, the main objectives of this research are:

– theoretical justification of importance on establishing competitive advantages by exporters of ferrous metals;

– analysis of the current state of export activity development of domestic metallurgical enterprises;

– determination of its competitive advantages.

Assigned objectives caused the use of the following methods of economic research:

1. economics and statistics – in order to identify trends and patterns of export activity development of domestic metallurgical enterprises;
2. abstract and logical – for the formulation of the theoretical and methodological foundations of the research problem, conclusions and prospects for further research.

Today, competitive advantages of domestic producers in Ukraine caused by the presence of large-scale transport infrastructure, its advantageous geographical position and procurement of natural resources. The competitiveness of Ukrainian producers also based on low level of domestic prices for raw materials, coal, electricity and natural gas.

Trends in global steel production determine the following factors:

1. technological structure improvement of world steel production, which lies in increase of converter and electro arc production methods;
2. rapid and widespread distribution of continuous steel casting, which ensures maximum approximation of billet shape to finished product configuration and contributes to increase casting yield by 15-20% with simultaneous decrease in production costs;
3. development and application of advanced steel technologies, materials and new technologies of raw materials preparation.

The main obstacles hindering the development of metallurgy in Ukraine and reduce its competitiveness on world steel markets are:

1. low technical and technological level of metallurgical enterprises and, therefore, the use of outdated steel production technologies;
2. low labor productivity and high material and energy intensity of production;
3. significantly higher cost of production of Ukrainian steelmakers compared with its foreign competitors;
4. increase  of the production share with low level of processing, which is often a target for anti-dumping measures from foreign authorities;
5. especially high level of fixed assets depreciation at vast majority of metallurgical enterprises;
6. insufficient quality and discrepancy of production to international standards;
7. high reliance of  metallurgy on global steel prices and trends in the development of global steel production.

Conclusion. To improve the competitiveness of Ukrainian production at the world’s ferrous metals market and apply new types of steel production by domestic metallurgical enterprises, it is necessary to conduct replacement of technologies, modernization of equipment and establish modern production facilities.

Key words: world market for ferrous metals; steel production; competitive environment.