The Russian steelmaker Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) has issued its production results for 2009.
Accordingly, in 2009 MMK recorded a 20 percent decrease year on year in its crude steel output to 9.618 million mt, and a four percent drop year on year in its pig iron production to 8.163 million mt. Meanwhile, the company's finished steel product output in 2009 saw a 20 percent decrease to 8.764 million mt compared to the previous quarter.
In 2009, MMK produced one million mt of longs - down 36 percent, 5.35 million mt of hot rolled products - down five percent, and just 3,000 mt of slabs and billets, the production of which was discontinued.
MMK's 2009 output of high value-added products (HVA) accounted for 27.4 percent of the company's production portfolio in the year, amounting to 2.4 million mt - down only 12 percent year on year. This included 1.09 million mt of CRC - down 20 percent year on year, 1.15 million mt of downstream products - down 15 percent year on year, and 159,000 mt of thick plate, the production of which was started in Q3 with the commissioning of the plate mill 5000.
In addition, "due to the start-up of new facilities, MMK increased output of major downstream product types: galvanized and color-coated steel output in 2009 amounted to 490,000 mt and 207,000 mt respectively, which is eight percent and 32 percent higher year on year," reads the company's statement.
In Q4 2009, MMK decreased its crude steel production by ten percent to about 2.56 million mt and reduced its finished product output by 11 percent to 2.327 million mt, both compared to Q3 2009.
Reviewing the past year, MMK says that in 2009 it "retained leading positions among Russian steel producers with a market share of 17 percent."