Russian steelmaker NLMK’s crude steel output increased 4pc in Q1 2021 to 4.4mn mt while consolidated sales decreased 13pc to 3.9mn mt compared to the prior year period.
NLMK attributed the increase in production to the completion of overhauls and equipment upgrades at its Lipetsk site in Q4 2020.
The third-party sales of semi-finished products were down by 29pc from last year to 700,000mt. Sales of finished products were 2.7mn mt, up 2pc from the previous year’s quarter, owing to an increased demand for rebar and plate.
Domestic sales increased were down 5pc from the prior year at 1.67mn mt. Export sales fell by 12pc to 1.18mn mt during the same period. Sales in the US dropped 20pc from a year ago at 430,000mt, due to decreased capacity utilization. Sales in the EU decreased 13pc in the EU to 626,000mt due to planned equipment upgrades.