Global steelmaking and mining giant Evraz Group S.A. has announced that in the first quarter this year its crude steel output amounted to 3.7 million mt, down 9.2 percent year on year. In the given quarter, the crude steel production of the Russian division of Evraz Group decreased by 11 percent quarter on quarter due to scheduled maintenance works at blast furnaces and converters of both EVRAZ ZSMK and EVRAZ NTMK, In the first quarter, crude steel output in the North American division decreased by three percent quarter on quarter due to maintenance downtime at EVRAZ Regina in January.
In the first quarter this year, Evraz's consolidated finished steel output amounted to 2.5 million mt, falling 6.2 percent year on year.
The Russian division of Evraz expects crude steel production to increase in the second quarter compared to the first quarter due to lower downtime on scheduled maintenance works. The output of finished goods, in particular construction products, is also expected to increase on the back of stronger seasonal demand. Meanwhile, the North American division expects in the second quarter its output of tubular goods to be in line with the first quarter, despite the seasonal factors driven by strong order books both for OCTG and larger diameter pipes.