According to the data issued for the first half of 2009, Russian steel producer Ashinskiy Metallurgical Works (Ashinskiy) has registered an 18 percent decrease year on year in the value of its steel product output, to about Ruble 4.509 billion (approx. $143.4 million).
During the first six months of 2009, Ashinskiy produced 278,911 mt of crude steel - down 21.1 percent, and 264,464 mt of finished steel - down 9.4 percent, both compared to the same period last year.
In addition, in H1 2009 Ashinskiy's sales of heavy plates decreased by 11.9 percent year on year to 231,315 mt. Of this number 114,700 mt of heavy plates were delivered to the Russian domestic market - down 40.2 percent, 105,894 mt were exported to non-CIS countries - up 71.8 percent, and 10,721 mt were delivered to CIS countries - up 15.5 percent, all compared to H1 2008.
During the period in question, staff numbers at Ashinskiy declined by 8.6 percent to 4,357 employees.