Global steelmaking and mining giant Evraz Group S.A. has announced that its crude steel output in the second quarter of 2012 decreased by six percent quarter on quarter and by four percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
In the given quarter, the crude steel production of the Russian division of Evraz Group fell by seven percent year on year due to the capital repairs at blast furnaces in the company's Russian steel mills and a temporary shutdown of one of the two electric arc furnaces as part of the rail mill modernization project. Evraz's Ukraine operations increased their crude steel production by 23 percent in the second quarter compared to the same quarter of 2011.
While rail production in the Russian division decreased by 18 percent quarter on quarter due to the shutdown of Evraz ZSMK's rail mill, the North American division reported a 12 percent quarter-on-quarter increase in rail production.
According to Evraz's statement, its Vitkovice steel mill located in the Czech Republic will be shut down from mid-July for 30 days due to scheduled repairs on the transportation route. The operation shutdown will be used for yearly maintenance at the plant.
Evraz Group's iron ore production in the second quarter was unchanged compared to the corresponding quarter of 2011, while its coking coal output registered a 10 percent increase year on year.