Metinvest ramped up steel production by 4% in January to September

In January–September 2020, Metinvest mining & metals group of companies boosted steel production by 4% to 6.15 million tons compared to the same period a year earlier,

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

In the nine months, Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol (Ilyich Steel) increased steel production by 6% to 3 million tons compared to the same period of 2019, and Azovstal’s steel production increased by 3% to 3.2 million tons.

“The Group’s crude steel output grew primarily due to a reallocation of hot metal to steelmaking after the launch of new equipment. At Azovstal, the output grew due to greater hot metal production,” reads the report.

In January–September, the Group increased hot metal production by 5% to 6.4 million tons compared to the same period of 2019.

Ilyich Steel increased hot metal production by 3% to 3.5 million tons compared to January–September 2019, while Azovstal increased pig iron production by 9% to 2.8 million tons.

“In 9M 2020, hot metal output grew due to an increase in production at Azovstal after blast furnace No. 3 was launched following a major overhaul and upgrade in June 2019. In addition, Ilyich Steel’s hot metal production was up due to a low-base effect caused by the shutdown of blast furnace No. 5 for an overhaul in May–July 2019,” according to the report.

In Q3 2020, Metinvest boosted steel production by 22% to 2.2 million tons against Q2, Azovstal by 18% to 1.1 million tons, and Ilyich Steel by 27% to 1.1 million tons.

In July–September 2020, Metinvest increased hot metal production by 17% to 2.3 million tons against Q2, Azovstal by 22% to 1 million tons, and Ilyich Steel by 13% to 1.3 million tons.

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