According to a company release issued on April 26, Severstal's total production of crude steel in Q1 2010 was 4.73 million mt, two percent higher than in the previous quarter, while its total hot metal output amounted to 3.597 million mt, six percent higher than in Q4 2009.
Severstal's total sales of iron ore pellets in Q1 2010 was 17 percent lower than in Q4 2009, iron ore concentrate sales decreased by 25 percent and coal sales were down by six percent, to 2.282 million mt, 960,023 mt and 2.64 million mt respectively. Meanwhile, the company's consolidated sales (net of intercompany sales) of rolled steel products amounted to 3.671 million mt - up five percent, its sales of semi-finished products amounted to 376,346 mt - down 34 percent, and its sales of downstream products amounted to 405,292 mt - down eight percent, all compared to Q4 2009.
Specifically, in Q1 this year, Severstal Russian Steel produced 2.576 million mt of crude steel - down three percent quarter on quarter, and 2.097 million mt of hot metal, up three percent quarter on quarter. Meanwhile, Severstal Russian Steel's Q1 sales of rolled products decreased by five percent to 1.754 million mt, its sales of semi-finished products went down by 69 percent to 98,422 mt, while its sales of downstream products fell by eight percent to 376,217 mt, all compared to Q4 2009.
Production of hot metal in North America was 985,327 mt in Q1 2010, compared to 922,220 mt in Q4 2009, which reflects a seven percent increase. Severstal's North American crude steel throughput for Q1 2010 was reported at 1,524,867 mt, which reflects a six percent increase from the 1,436,499 mt reported in Q4 2009. In addition, Severstal's North American operations have also reported a 13 percent increase in its sales of rolled steel products to 1.473 million mt, but a 13 percent decrease in its downstream products (metalware) sales to 19,898 mt.
Positive Q1 results have also been registered at Severstal's European assets, with crude steel output increasing by 17 percent quarter on quarter to 626,222 mt, and hot metal production growing by 16 percent quarter on quarter to 504,471. In Q1 this year, Severstal Europe's sales of rolled steel products amounted to 449,077 mt - up 21 percent, its sales of semi-finished products amounted to 307,086 mt - up 28 percent, while its sales of downstream products (metalware) amounted to 9,958 mt - down two percent, all compared to Q4 2009.