Mechel, one of the leading Russian mining and steel groups, has announced that in the fourth quarter of 2013 its crude steel output decreased by nine percent to one million mt, while its pig iron output also declined by nine percent to 835,000 mt, both quarter on quarter. Mechel's run-of-mine coal production in the fourth quarter increased by a slight margin of one percent compared to the third quarter to 7.08 million mt.
During 2013, Mechel's crude steel output amounted to 4.65 million mt, down 29 percent, while the company's pig iron output decreased by 10 percent to 3.74 million mt, both year on year. In the given period, run-of-mine coal production decreased by one percent to 27.5 million mt compared to 2012.
According to Mechel's statement, in 2013 its sale of long rolled products decreased by 13 percent year on year to 3.54 million mt, as Mechel ended its strategic partnership with Estar Group's plants, mainly by stopping sales of the group's products, while the sale of flat rolled products decreased by 18 percent to 586,000, compared to 2012.