May 23, 2019 - Mechel PAO (MOEX: MTLR, NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, has announced 1Q2019 operational results.

Mechel PAO’s Chief Executive Officer Oleg Korzhov commented on the 1Q2019 operational results:

“In this accounting period, prices for our key products remained at fairly high levels. This was due to insufficient investment into the coal industry worldwide and other factors, such as the restrictions on Australian coal shipments and China’s introduction of protective tariffs against US coal. The stably comfortable price level prompts producers to a greater output and supply of coal, which shifts the balance of supply and demand. The price dynamics in 2019 will mostly depend on China as the leading importer as well the stability of supply from Australia, Russia and the United States.

“The 19-percent decrease in our coal production in the first quarter was due to the necessity of reducing our stockpiles which reached some 1 million tonnes due to a shortage of gondola railcars in the Russian Railways network in the previous quarter at Kuzbass and Southern Yakutia production areas. Starting early this year, the delivery cycle has recovered, reflecting in the positive dynamics of our sales to third parties (+3% for coking coal concentrate, +7% for PCI and +45% for thermal coal) and will have further positive impact on the next quarter’s operational results. I would like to particularly note the growth of sales from Elga Coal Complex, which went up by 34%.

“The 45-percent slump in anthracite sales quarter-on-quarter was due to our decreasing output of this type of coal at our Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, shifting our production facilities to coking coal grades.

“We continue implementing the technical upgrade program for our mining division, which is aimed at increasing mining output. As part of this program, this year our facilities will receive over 70 new equipment and transport units. We also plan to expand our partnership with contractors we bring in to take part in open pit mining.

“The 7-percent increase in overall sales of iron ore concentrate in 1Q2019 was due to the increase of output at Korshunov Mining Plant as well as sales of stockpiles accumulated in the fourth quarter. In this accounting period, our iron ore concentrate sales to third parties went up by half.

“Coke sales to third parties went up by 19% in the first quarter. In this segment, we are actively expanding into new markets, shipping pilot batches to Spain, Vietnam and India.

“Mechel’s steel division faces a large-scale repair campaign this year. Some repairs have already been completed in the first quarter, but had no impact on operational results as steel output went up by 3% and pig iron output remained at the previous quarter’s level. We continue to successfully implement our strategy of increasing the share of higher-margin products. For example, the operational plans of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant’s universal rolling mill for this quarter, the same as the previous quarter, gives priority to higher-margin sections and expanding its product range. Demand for channels, some beam types and pit props is consistently steady. As a result, sales of the universal rolling mill’s sections went up by 4% quarter-on-quarter. We see the same trend in our other facilities as well.

“A minor decrease in sales of long rolls (-2%) quarter-on-quarter was due to the rebar market’s traditional winter slump. The 18-percent rise in sales of stainless long rolls at Izhstal fully made up for that. We are gradually recovering our former position in this business segment distinguished by high margin levels.

“Flat rolls sales went up by 26% due to a significant increase in sales of stainless flats (+28% quarter-on-quarter) and other types of flats (+26%) produced by Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. In this accounting period, subsidiaries of our Mechel Service Global network were very efficient in boosting sales of regular flats produced by third parties to European Union engineering companies.

“Hardware sales remained roughly at the previous quarter’s level, with a minor slump due to seasonal demand fluctuations. At the same time, in 1Q2019 Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant increased output quarter-on-quarter as orders for the next accounting period came in, and mastered production of 14 new product types, including eight types of wire ropes.

“Forgings sales went up by 3% as our export to Europe increased. In this accounting period, Russian machinebuilders bought fewer railway axles produced by Urals Stampings Plant, which had its impact on the overall stampings sales (-11%).

“Ferrosilicon sales went down by 14% quarter-on-quarter. This was due to the fact that we were forward with a major contract with a Japanese client, fulfilling our obligations early in the fourth quarter, supplying a total of some 5,000 tonnes of ferrosilicon.

“Electricity generation in the first quarter largely remained at the previous quarter’s level. Heat generation went up by 12% due to lower temperatures in this accounting period.” 

For financial figures, click here.