Mechel, one of the leading Russian mining and steel groups, has announced that in the first nine months of the current year its crude steel output increased by two percent to 3.24 million mt, while its pig iron output also rose by five percent to 3.06 million mt, both year on year. Mechel's run-of-mine coal production in the given period increased by two percent compared to the same period of last year to 17.40 million mt.
In the January-September period of this year, the company's steam coal sales saw an 18 percent increase year on year to 4.9 million mt. Coking coal concentrate sales in the first nine months of this year decreased by 20 percent to 6.2 million mt, while iron ore concentrate sales went down by 17 percent to 2.06 million mt, both on year-on-year basis.
Regarding its mining segment, the company stated that in the third quarter of the current year prices in the global coal market did not stabilize. The unfavorable situation has persisted, forcing companies all over the world to optimize production and cut costs. Nevertheless, Mechel’s mining assets have demonstrated good production results. Mechel maintained chief production and sales parameters at the previous quarter’s level, while mining at Elga Coal Complex over the first nine months this year yielded nearly three million mt.