In the first eight months of this year, Zlatoust Metallurgical Works (ZMZ), a subsidiary of the Russian steel producer ESTAR Holding, increased its commercial grade rolled steel product output by 346 percent to 248,590 mt, from 55,700 mt in January-August 2009. Meanwhile, the plant's steel smelting increased by about 88 percent year on year to 130,880 mt from 69,700 mt in the same period last year.
In August, ZMZ smelted 7,500 mt of steel - down 42 percent, produced 34,700 mt of commercial grade rolled steel products - up 117 percent, and shipped 30,290 mt of finished steel products - up 102 percent, all compared to August 2009.
By the end of 2010, ZMZ plans to increase its monthly shipments of finished steel products by one third to up to 40,000 mt, aiming mainly to increase the sales of expensive high value-added steel products.
In order to improve the competitiveness of its products, ZMZ continues to modernize its main production facilities. Thus, in December this year, ZMZ plans to commission its new Czech-based automated line for the production of quality high-alloy rolled products. In addition, ZMZ initiated the repair of its rolling mill 400 and of the fourth heating furnace, which will increase the capacity of the unit from 5,200 mt to 6,000 mt of rolled steel per month.