Russian mining and steelmaking company Evraz Group has announced its production results for the second quarter of the current year, stating that its crude steel production decreased by 9.9 percent to 3.2 million mt compared to the first quarter of this year, primarily due to planned capital repairs at blast furnace No. 1 at its Siberian steel division, Evraz ZSMK. In the second quarter this year, the company's pig iron production decreased by 11.7 percent to 2.6 million mt, finished steel production rose by 0.4 percent to 1.87 million mt and coke production increased by 77.3 percent to 290,000 mt, all quarter on quarter.
Evraz said that the share of finished steel products in consolidated volumes rose to 65.3 percent in the second quarter, up from 56.4 percent in the first quarter, due to lower production of semi-finished products in Russia and Ukraine amid improved demand for construction products in both markets.
According to the company's statement, in the second quarter its production of tubular products (large diameter pipes, oil country tubular goods and small diameter line pipes) in North America continued to be affected by pipeline project delays, low oil prices and the seasonal impact of the spring break in Western Canada.