Ukrainian integrated steel mill ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih decreased its output in H1 2020 due to COVID-19 related restrictions in the country during the period.
In the first six months of the year, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih produced 2.5mn mt of pig iron compared with 2.6 mn mt in H1 2019. Crude steel output totaled 2.4mn mt during the period under review slightly down from 2.6mn mt produced in the same six months last year, while finished steel production declined to 2.2mn mt from 2.3mn mt during the same period under comparison.
Mauro Longobardo, chief executive officer, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, said the company had maintained production volumes at 90-95pc of the planned indicators in H1. Although production fell to 80pc of capacity in Q2 2020 because of the pandemic, the company could ramp it back up to 90pc by the end of Q2 2020.
Various repairs and scheduled maintenance also affected the output from the plant in H1 2020. In January -June 2020 ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih carried out repairs of blast furnace No. 9, one sintering machine of the second sinter shop, repairs of a furnace at its wire rod mill 150-1, and repairs and maintenance of its boiler No. 4 of HHP No. 2 were also completed.