Russian steelmaker Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) has announced its production and sales data for the third quarter and for the first nine months of the current year. According to the company statement, NLMK's crude steel output in the third quarter increased to 4.09 million mt, up one percent compared to the previous quarter. The company’s crude steel production in the January-September period increased by two percent year on year to 12.01 million mt.
In the third quarter, NLMK Group's total steel product sales increased by two percent quarter on quarter to 4.08 million mt due to higher finished product shipments rising by six percent quarter on quarter, while semi-finished product sales declined by five percent quarter on quarter. Meanwhile, in the first nine months of the current year, total steel product sales rose by seven percent to 12.05 million mt on the back of the increase in export shipments.
Domestic sales totaled 1.73 million mt (up 12 percent quarter on quarter) or accounting for 42 percent of total sales. This increase was supported by a higher demand for flat steel on the back of the seasonal recovery in consumption in infrastructure sectors (construction, pipe manufacturing) and lower imports.
NLMK also stated that capacity utilization rates for core steelmaking operations was close to 100 percent.