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Plant «Zelezara» is looking for strategic partner

Problems with production in the Serbian steel plant «Zelezara», located in Smederevo, lasted for several years, however, stop one of the furnaces is motivated by the lack of raw material, to the second furnace, since the end of May this year, the work on it is carried out with a reduced capacity. However, according to former Serbian media production capacity will be restored after the final adjustment of supply of raw materials and the final stage of preparation for the planned furnace loads.

In February 2012, the company «US Steel» severed relations with the leadership «Zelezara» and since the Serbian producers are searching for strategic partners who at the moment has not yet yielded any results. «Zelezara» passed at the disposal of «US Steel» in early 2003, the American company paid for him 23 million USD and has established major exporter of plant -. At the time of production gave 13% of the total production in the country of export. This situation lasted until 2012, then in January 2012, the Serbian government bought «Zelezara» just 1 USD.

Interested potential investors, including representatives of Russia, the US and the EU, visited the plant, starting from January this year, some media sources have suggested that the most likely partner is a subsidiary of the Chicago branch of the corporation «Esmark», «Esmark Steel Group». Further details promise at the end of the month.

In general, the steel industry in the countries that comprise the World Steel Association, released a product in the amount of 141.184 million tonnes in May this year. This figure is higher than the data the same period last year by 2.2%. Melting of crude steel in May 2014, issued 28 EU countries, was in the amount of 15.042 million tons, while the figures were lower by 2.7% in May of the previous year. Other European countries produced goods in the amount of 3.173 million tons, while last year's figures for the same period were higher by 1.6% and amounted to 3,225 million tons.

steel production figures in the CIS countries increased by 1.9% in May 2014 compared to the same period last year, reaching 9.526 million. tons against 9.348 million. tons respectively. Melting of crude steel production in North America increased by 3.3% compared to the same period last year, which amounted to 10,216,000. Tons against 9.891 million. Tons. South America produced crude steel 3.886 million. Tons, reducing the percentage of 4.2%.

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