Zlatoust Metallurgical Works (ZMZ), a subsidiary of the Russian steel producer ESTAR Holding, has announced that in the first quarter of this year it registered a 207 percent increase year on year in its steel output to 75,200 mt. In particular, ZMZ produced 71,000 mt of commercial steel products (up from 22,400 mt), 4,100 mt of semi-finished rolled products (up from 2,000 mt), and 2,500 mt of steel products with special surface finish (up from 1,400 mt).
Meanwhile, in the first quarter, ZMZ's deliveries of commercial steel products went up by 172 percent year on year to 74,200 mt.
"The significant increase in shipments was due to both the growing demand from existing customers and to new contracts. In particular, Saratov, Volgograd and Samara bearing plants increased their orders of calibrated steel. Also, profitable orders have been received from traditional partners - the automakers GAZ and UAZ," reads the company's statement, adding that the current situation allows ZMZ to speak about the projected sales of finished products and, consequently, about stable capacity utilization level of the plant.