Russia's second largest coking coal producer Raspadskaya has stated that in the second quarter of the current year its coal output increased by 16 percent quarter on quarter to 1.84 million mt, rising by 9.5 percent year on year. In the first half of the year, the company's coal output amounted to 3.43 million mt, down one percent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.
During the quarter in question, Raspadskaya's sales of coal concentrate increased by 18.3 percent year on year to 1.07 million mt, while its sales of run-of-mine coal decreased by 23.4 percent to 189,000 mt. In the first six months of the year, coal concentrate sales increased by nine percent to 2 million mt, while run-of-mine coal sales declined by 46 percent to 327,000 mt, year on year.
According to Raspadskaya's statement, in general the unstable demand for coking coal in Russia has started to be the main negative factor limiting production and sales volumes in 2012, which in turn greatly affects the fulfillment of sales plans, the increase of stockpiles and the overall financial condition of the company.