The Russian steelmaker and iron ore producer Evraz Group (Evraz) has released its production results for the first three months of 2008.
Accordingly, in the first quarter of 2008 Evraz registered a 2.4 percent increase in pig iron production, a 3.9 percent increase in crude steel output and an 8.2 percent increase in its rolled steel production, all compared to the first quarter of 2007. The respective figures in metric tons were 3.37 million, 4.47 million and 4.22 million. During the period in question, Evraz's production of semis decreased by 14.9 percent to 1.22 million metric tons, its construction products output increased by 20.5 percent to 1.45 million metric tons, its railway products output rose by 23.5 percent to 600,000 metric tons and its flat rolled products output increased by 31.8 percent to 618,000 metric tons.
In addition, during the period in question, Evraz's mining division saw a 28.4 percent increase in iron ore concentrate production to 831,000 metric tons, but a 13.6 percent decrease in sinter production to 1.93 million metric tons, and a 0.3 percent increase in pellet production to 1.56 million metric tons. Furthermore, Evraz mined 2.42 million metric tons of coking coal in the first three months of 2008.
According to the statistical data, Evraz was able to achieve overall positive operation results in steel production due to the contribution of its North America's subsidiaries, which saw increases in their steel production ranging from 40 to 73 percent.