Russian steelmaker NLMK Group has announced its production and sales data for the first quarter of the current year. According to the company statement, NLMK's crude steel output in the first quarter increased to 4.21 million mt, remaining stable compared to the fourth quarter last year.
In the first quarter, NLMK Group's total steel product sales increased by one percent quarter on quarter to 3.68 million mt, the growth in flat steel sales by its Russian and international divisions offsetting the fall in long steel sales caused by the seasonal slowdown in demand.
In the first quarter, domestic steel sales totaled 2.23 million mt, down seven percent quarter on quarter, against the backdrop of the seasonal slowdown in demand from the Russian construction sector, coupled with high stock levels maintained by traders, while export sales of the company amounted to 1.39 million mt, up 10 percent quarter on quarter, accounting for 37 percent of total sales. In the given period, key export destinations of the company included the Middle East, the EU and Latin America.