Stoilensky Mining and Beneficiation Plant (Stoilensky GOK), a subsidiary of Russian steel producer Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) has announced that in 2009 it produced about 12.6 million mt of iron ore - down four percent, including 1.7 million mt of sintered ore - up 3.7 percent, and 10.9 million mt of iron ore concentrate - down 4.8 percent, all compared to 2008.
"The iron ore production dynamics during 2009 were generally in line with the capacity utilization levels of NLMK's main production site in Lipetsk, which is the major consumer of the plant's products," reads the company's statement.
Accordingly, in 2009, Stoilensky GOK delivered 13.9 million mt of iron ore - up 16.7 percent, including 11.9 million mt of concentrate - up 12.1 percent, and about two million mt of sintered ore - up 53.6 percent, all compared to 2008.
Stoilensky GOK's sales volumes in 2009 exceeded those of the previous year, mainly due to the sale of iron ore stocks in the first half of 2009, amid the stable and high capacity utilization level of the plant during the year. Already in the second quarter of 2009, Stoilensky GOK saw a recovery in supply volumes to NLMK's main production site in Lipetsk, where in 10.7 million mt of concentrate and 0.58 million mt of sintered ore were shipped in 2009. In addition, in the second half of 2009 Stoilensky GOK also registered a stabilization of demand from external customers.