Russian steelmaker NLMK Group has announced its production and sales data for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2017. According to the company statement, NLMK's crude steel output in the fourth quarter increased to 4.25 million mt, up two percent compared to the same quarter of 2016.
In 2017, the company’s crude steel production increased by three percent year on year to 17.07 million mt, driven by higher equipment productivity at the Lipetsk site and growth of capacity utilization rates at NLMK Russia Long and NLMK USA backed by improved demand in home and external markets.
In the fourth quarter, NLMK Group's sales rose by 20 percent year on year to 4.36 million mt, driven by increased demand for flat steel in Russia and the US as well as by intensified sales of semi-finished products in external markets. In 2017, NLMK’s sales volume amounted to 16.47 million mt, rising by three percent year on year, amid recovering demand in its home markets of Russia, Europe and the US, and growing demand in external markets.
Meanwhile, in 2017 NLMK Group’s steelmaking capacities were running at 98 percent, up three percentage points year on year.