Steel production rose 5.5 percent in 2016 to 24.2 million tonnes as the industry picked up after a sharp drop the previous year due to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where most of the country's steel production is based.

Data from the producers' union showed pig iron output fell by 15 percent to 20 million tonnes, while rolled steel production was down 14 percent at 18.4 million tonnes.

The union said Ukraine produced 1.88 million tonnes of steel, 1.87 million tonnes of pig iron and 1.70 million tonnes of rolled steel in December.

It has said the steel output was likely to total 1.9 million tonnes in January, 2018.

Steel, chemicals and agricultural goods make up the majority of Ukraine's exports.