The Russian steel producer Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) has announced that in the first nine months of the current year its coal mining subsidiary Belon increased its coking coal concentrate production by 6.4 percent year on year to 2.118 million mt.
Meanwhile, in Q3 2010, Belon saw a 29.7 percent quarter on quarter decrease in concentrate production, due to change of walls, additional works to meet safety requirements, difficult geological and mining conditions and increased ash content. Starting from September 2010 production volumes recovered and are in line with production targets for the end of 2010.
MMK also noted that, due to the persisting undersupply of fat-base coking coals in Russian domestic market after the explosion at Raspadskaya mine in May this year, Belon has become one of the key suppliers of these coal grades. The company has increased its share in the Russian market in 2010 to 10 percent, from eight percent in 2009.
Production, thousand mt |
||||||
Q3 2010 |
Q2 2010 |
Change |
Jan-Sept 2010 |
Jan-Sept 2009 |
Change |
|
822 |
1,150 |
-28.5% |
3,325 |
2,828 |
17.6% |
|
Mined |
747 |
1,078 |
-30.7% |
3,026 |
2,753 |
9.9% |
Purchased |
75 |
72 |
4.2% |
299 |
75 |
298.7% |
Coking coal concentrate |
525 |
747 |
-29.7% |
2,118 |
1,991 |
6.4% |
Steam coal |
628 |
887 |
-29.2% |
2,481 |
1,758 |
41.1% |
Mined |
628 |
887 |
-29.2% |
2,481 |
1,755 |
41.4% |
Purchased |
0 |
0 |
n/a |
0 |
3 |
n/a |
Steam coal concentrate |
569 |
853 |
-33.3% |
2,128 |
1,693 |
25.7% |
Average prices, USD |
||||||
Q3 2010 |
Q2 2010 |
Change |
Jan-Sept 2010 |
Jan-Sept 2009 |
Change |
|
Coking coal concentrate |
146 |
139 |
5.0% |
134 |
61 |
119.7% |
Steam coal concentrate |
46 |
40 |
15.0% |
43 |
52 |
-17.3% |