The Russian steel producing and mining company Evraz Group (Evraz) has announced that in Q3 2010 its coking coal production, amounting to 1.628 million mt, improved by 12.8 percent compared to Q2 2010, but was down 31.5 percent compared to Q3 2009 due to temporary stoppages at its mines caused by safety inspections and additional security equipment installation following the accident at Raspadskaya. In Q4 this year, volumes are expected to recover as no significant negative one-offs are anticipated.
At the same time, in Q3 2010, Evraz's CIS region mining segment saw its iron ore concentrate production (Russia) drop by 10.9 percent to 1.46 million mt, its pellet production (Russia) increased by 2.7 percent to 1.42 million mt, its lumping ore output (Ukraine) increased by 40.9 percent to 570,000 mt, while its sinter production (Russia) went up by 2.9 percent to 937,000 mt - all compared to Q3 2009. In addition, Evraz's South African lump ore output went up by 6.4 percent year on year to 455,000 mt, while its fine ore output decreased by 4.2 percent to 137,000 mt.
Evraz also noted that in Q3 2010 its sinter production in Russia was down by16 percent quarter on quarter due to reduced requirements from Evraz steel mills, and that its Sukha Balka in Ukraine operated at full capacity during Q3, increasing the production of lump ore by 135.4 percent quarter on quarter.