Global steelmaking and mining giant Evraz Group S.A. has announced that its crude steel output amounted to 3.67 million mt in the fourth quarter of 2012, decreasing by 5.9 percent quarter on quarter and by 11.1 percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year. The decreases are mainly due to scheduled maintenance of a converter and billet caster at Evraz ZSMK.
In 2012, the crude steel output of Evraz decreased by five percent year on year to 15.95 million mt, mainly due to a higher number of overhauls at Russian assets related to implementation of the group's modernization program, but also due to the temporary suspension of crude steel production at Evraz Vitkovice's steel shop in the Czech Republic aimed at reducing slab inventory. Production resumed at Evraz Vitkovice in January 2013.
Regarding output of finished steel products, production amounted to 2.63 million mt in the fourth quarter of 2012, registering a slight decrease compared to the previous quarter, while the finished steel product output for the full year decreased by 5.2 percent year on year to 11.07 million mt.