Russian steelmaker Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) has announced its production and sales data for the first half of the current year. According to the company’s statement, NLMK's crude steel output in the first half totaled 8.2 million mt, down six percent year on year, due to the launch of overhauls at NLMK Lipetsk BF and BOF operations.
In the given period, NLMK Group's total steel product sales increased by four percent to 8.9 million mt compared to the same period of the previous year, driven by higher demand for finished steel in the Russian market, and due to destocking at the beginning of this year of inventories accumulated at the end of 2018.
In the first half of 2019, domestic sales totaled 5.6 million mt, up seven percent year on year, due to increased demand for finished long products in the Russian market. On the other hand, the company’s export sales totaled 3.2 million mt, up one percent year on year.