Severstal has announced its operational results for Q1 2017. According to its press release, hot metal output remained largely unchanged, decreasing only by 1%, to 2.34 million tons (Q4 2016 – 2.36 million tons) compared with the previous quarter.
Crude steel production declined by 2%m, to 2.86 million tons (2.92 million tons). Crude steel output at CherMK was influenced by the planned maintenance works at converters No. 2 and 3.
Consolidated steel product sales declined by 9% QoQ, to 2.53 million tons (2.78 million tons). In Q1 2017, following record sales volumes achieved in previous quarter, the company replenished inventories to normal levels and accumulated finished good stocks for subsequent realization during 2017 as well as increased export sales in response to weaker domestic demand and lower activity from local traders.
The proximity of key assets to the border also enabled the company to shift sales to export, accordingly steel product export sales volumes grew to 42% (38%) of the sales mix.
Following the refurbishment of the four-stand cold rolling mill at CherMK and the increase in production volumes, cold-rolled coil sales volumes continued to increase, and were up by 14% QoQ, following the increase of 15% QoQ achieved in Q4 2016.
Increased cold-rolled, large diameter pipes and color-coated sales led to the share of high value-added (HVA) products within the sales portfolio increasing to 44% (40%). (MetalInfo/Ukrainian metal)