Kazakhstan's biggest iron ore producer Sokolov-Sarbai Mining Production Association (SSGPO), a subsidiary of mining group Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation Plc. (ENRC), is aiming to process 11 million mt of iron ore in 2009 - down 40 percent year on year.
Accordingly, in 2009 SSGPO is planning to produce eight million mt of iron ore concentrate and three million mt of pellets.
Due to the decrease in iron ore demand and in export prices, SSGPO began to reduce its production in October 2008. In January 2009 the miner was operating at half capacity, as it was no longer shipping iron ore to Russian steel producer MMK at the time, but only exporting to China. In 2009 SSGPO aims to step up its shipments to MMK.