Russian steelmaker Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) has announced its production and sales data for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2014. According to the company statement, NLMK's crude steel output in the fourth quarter decreased to 4.1 million mt, up 1.1 percent year on year, including 6.8 percent quarter-on-quarter growth at the Lipetsk site bringing the facility’s output to its all-time historical quarterly high of 3.4 million mt driven by the company’s operational efficiency program. In 2014, NLMK’s crude steel output amounted to 15.9 million mt, rising by 3.2 percent compared to 2013.
In the fourth quarter, NLMK Group's sales increased by seven percent year on year to 3.85 million mt, on the back of strong demand in external markets and the delayed recognition of previous period sales. In 2014, NLMK’s sales volume amounted to 15.1 million mt, up two percent year on year, due mainly to higher product sales at NLMK Kaluga.
For the first quarter of the current year, NLMK expects operational performance to remain stable quarter on quarter. In 2015, company’s steel output is expected at a level comparable to 2014.