Evraz ups iron ore output in Q1, while coking coal production declines

The Russian steel producing and mining company Evraz Group (Evraz) has announced that in Q1 this year its coking coal production, amounting to 1.84 million mt, decreased by 16.8 percent year on year, and was down 17.4 percent compared to Q4 2010, due to temporary technical issues at its subsidiary Yuzhkuzbassugol.
 
"We expect coking coal volumes to recover in the next quarter with 2011 volumes being higher than in 2010," said the company in its statement.
 
At the same time, in Q1 this year, Evraz's CIS region mining segment saw its iron ore concentrate production (Russia) increase by 3.1 percent to 1.47 million mt, its pellet production (Russia) increased by 15 percent to 1.52 million mt, its lump ore output (Ukraine) dropped by 27.7 percent to 345,000 mt, while its sinter production (Russia) went up by 11.3 percent to 1.12 million mt - all compared to Q1 2010. In addition, Evraz's South African lump ore output went down by 17 percent year on year to 359,000 mt, while its fine ore output decreased by 8.1 percent to 152,000 mt.