According to Ukrrudprom, some Ukraine's steelworks have increased their intake of iron ore from January to April, 2008. For this reason, much of the domestic stocks were not consumed.

During this period of time, Alchevsk Iron and Steel Works imported most of their iron ore, with the total reaching 645.600 tons. The second company, Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol, used imported iron ore amounting to 347,000 tons.

In spite of the increased import iron ore consumption, the stocks have risen instead by a wide margin. Therefore, the Ministry of Industrial Policy plans to probe into this situation.