Metinvest boosted steel production by 12% in January–March

In January–March, Metinvest mining & metals group of companies boosted steel production by 12% to 2.17 million tons compared to the same period a year earlier,

according to the report of the Group’s parent company Metinvest B. V. (Netherlands), published on its official website.

In Q1 2020, Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol (Ilyich Iron and Steel Works) ramped up steel production by 9% to 1.05 million tons against January–March 2019, and Azovstal by 15% to 1.12 million tons.

A 145 thousand tons increase at Azovstal is due to a hike in pig iron production. According to Metinvest, a growth of 84 thousand tons at Ilyich Iron and Steel Works is due to the redistribution of pig iron in favor of steel production following the launch of new equipment.

In Q1, Metinvest increased pig iron production by 7% to 2.09 million tons compared to the same period of the previous year.

Ilyich Iron and Steel Works reduced pig iron production by 3% to 1.09 million tons against January–March 2019. Conversely, Azovstal ramped up production by 20% to 999 thousand tons.

Azovstal’s pig iron production increased by 168 thousand tons amid unstable supplies of raw materials in Q1 2019 and in connection with the launch of the blast furnace No. 3 following its overhaul repair in June 2019. A 35 thousand tons cut in pig iron production at Ilyich Iron and Steel Works was caused by the postponed launch of the blast furnace No. 3.

As reported earlier, in 2019, Metinvest boosted production of steel by 3% to 7.6 million tons against the previous year. Production of pig iron dropped by 3% to 7.9 million tons.