Metinvest ramped up steel production by 1% in H1

In January–June 2020, Metinvest mining & metals group of companies boosted steel production by 1% to 3.96 million tons compared to the same period a year earlier,

according to a report posted on the Company’s website.

In H1, Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol (Ilyich Steel) increased steel production by 2% to 1.91 million tons compared to H1 2019, while Azovstal’s steel production remained flat compared to the same period (2.05 million tons).

“The Group’s crude steel output grew by 1% y-o-y to 3,963 thousand tons, primarily due to an uptick in production at Ilyich Steel of 38 thousand tons amid a reallocation of hot metal to steelmaking after the launch of new equipment,” reads the report.

In January–June 2020, pig iron production grew by 1% to 4.06 million tons compared to the same period a year earlier.

Ilyich Steel cut pig iron production by 2% to 2.27 million tons compared to H1 2019, while Azovstal increased pig iron production by 6% to 1.83 million tons.

“In 1H 2020, hot metal output … edged up … due to an increase in production at Azovstal of 97 thousand tons after blast furnace No. 3 was launched following a major overhaul and upgrade in June 2019. At Ilyich Steel, hot metal output decreased by 39 thousand tons amid the major overhaul of blast furnace No. 3 … and No. 4,” according to the report.

In Q2 2020, Metinvest cut steel production by 17% to 1.79 million tons against Q1, Azovstal by 16% to 936 thousand tons, and Ilyich Steel by 19% to 856 thousand tons.

Pig iron production fell by 5% to 1.97 million tons against April–June 2019. Azovstal decreased production by 17% to 832 thousand tons, while Ilyich Steel increased its production results by 5% to 1.14 million tons.

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.