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 4.32 million mt, rising by three percent compared to the fourth quarter last year, driven by high capacity utilization at NLMK Lipetsk and growth of output at NLMK Russia Long.
In the first quarter, NLMK Group's total steel product sales decreased by five percent quarter on quarter to 4.14 million mt, due to growth in slab sales to captive rolling facilities for further processing and the seasonal weakening in demand in Russia.
In the first quarter, domestic steel sales totaled 2.60 million mt, down nine percent quarter on quarter, driven by a seasonal reduction in buying activity in Russia, while export sales of the company amounted to 1.59 million mt, up one percent quarter on quarter. In the given period, the key export destinations of the company included Africa and the Middle East (including Turkey).