Mechel Reports 1H2019 Operational Results

Mechel PAO’s Chief Executive Officer Oleg Korzhov commented on operational results:

“Our large-scale program of upgrading mining equipment at our mining assets is yielding obvious results. In the second quarter we increased coal output by a third, and by 41% at the Elga coal deposit, as our management’s attention was focused on increasing coking coal production. We have also stabilized the situation with railcar availability. As a result, coking coal concentrate sales went up by 13% quarter-on-quarter — both domestically (+12%) and in Asia Pacific (+21%).

“PCI sales went up by 9% in 2Q2019 quarter-on-quarter as we increased PCI sales to our Japanese clients.

“Southern Kuzbass Coal Company increased anthracite output in this accounting period. However, the sales results for this type of coal (-14%) reflect the fact that several major batches formed in the 4Q2018 were sold in the first quarter.

“As for thermal coal, in the second quarter its sales to Russian power stations and housing and utility companies saw a seasonal slump. However, we increased sales to the European Union (+37%) and Asia (+21%). Vietnam, which accounts for more than half of our thermal coal sales to third parties, is currently the chief consumer of Elga’s thermal coal.

“Despite an increase in iron ore concentrate output at Korshunov Mining Plant, its sales saw a minor decrease of 4% in the second quarter. This was due to the fact that as we faced a railcar shortage in late 2018, we accumulated excessive stock reserves which were then sold to third parties in January-March. In this year’s first half, iron ore concentrate sales increased by 42% year on year, while sales to third parties went up by nine times.

“This accounting period’s six-percent decrease in coke sales was due to a major batch bound for India being rescheduled for the next accounting period.

“The steel division ensured pig iron and steel output at the previous quarter’s level. In July we halted one of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant’s blast furnaces for a major overhaul due to be completed by the year’s end. At the same time, we expect that this year’s output of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant’s finished products will remain at the 2018 level.

“The eight-percent increase in long rolls sales in 2Q2019 was due to a traditional seasonal spike in demand on construction markets in Russia and the CIS, particularly for rebar. Sales of stainless long rolls remained at the previous quarter’s level. In this accounting period we began shipping off rails on a new annual contract with Russian Railways, which led to a major increase in rail production at our universal rolling mill. Also in the second quarter we began shipping rails on key contracts with Belarusian Railways and Moscow Metro. Early in 3Q2019 the universal rolling mill made an important achievement — it produced its millionth tonne of rails. Thus rails accounted for 40% of the mill’s total output. De facto we became one of the world’s leading rail producers and are ready to participate in infrastructure projects.

“In the second quarter, domestic sales of flat rolls went down by 2%. At the same time we increased sales of stainless flats to third parties by 12%. This is a highly profitable business segment and we consider it to be strategically important for the Group. Experts say that importers currently account for 90% of the market for stainless flats. This means that there are opportunities for import substitution in this product range, which we are already using, and we plan to continue moving in this direction.

“Sales of ferrosilicon produced by Bratsk Ferroalloys Plant went up by 14% in this accounting period, with sales to third parties up by half. Demand for this product remains stable both domestically and internationally.

“The four-percent increase in hardware sales in 2Q2019 was due primarily to an increase in wire sales to domestic constructors through the Mechel-Service network.

“The 19-percent decrease in forgings sales quarter-on-quarter was due to a slump in demand in the European Union. The five-percent increase in stampings sales was due to an increase in orders for locomotive axles by one of our key clients. It must also be noted that in this accounting period we increased sales of high-margin stampings from heat resistant alloys, which had a positive impact on the average sales price.

“The slump in electricity (-4%) and heat (-52%) generation quarter-on-quarter was due to the end of the heating season and beginning of equipment repairs.”

Source: Mechel, Photo: Fotolia