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EvrazAnnouncement

18/10/2016 07:05

RNS Number : 7610M
Evraz Plc
18 October 2016
EVRAZ Q32016 PRODUCTION REPORT

18October 2016 - EVRAZ plc (LSE: EVR) ("EVRAZ" or the "Group") today releases its operational results for the third quarter of 2016.
Q32016 vs Q22016 OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:
Consolidated crude steel output increased by 6.3% QoQ to 3.4 million tonnes in Q3 2016, following the completion of capital repairs at blast furnace 1 at EVRAZ ZSMK. 
Output of steel products, net of re-rolled volumes, rose by 5.6% QoQ to 3.0 million tonnes, primarily due to the repairs completed at blast furnace 1 at EVRAZ ZSMK. 
The share of semi-finished products increased to 43.0% in Q3 2016 (34.8% in Q2 2016), its standard level, following the repairs completed at blast furnaces, boosting the volume of steel available for export in Q3 2016.
In North America, output of tubular products (large-diameter pipes (LDP), oil country tubular goods (OCTG) and small-diameter line pipes) fell by 12.5% QoQ, due to pipeline project delays and low oil prices; output of construction products and flat products decreased by 14.7% and 25.7% respectively amid lower demand.
Output of coking coal concentrate decreased by 3.8% QoQ, as less coking coal was mined at the Raspadskaya mine due to longwall repositioning in Q3 2016.
STEEL
Product, '000 tonnes 
Q3 2016
Q2 2016
Q32016/ Q22016, change
9m 2016
9m 2015*
9m2016/ 9m2015, change
Coke (saleable)
280
290
-3.6%
733
774
-5.3%
Pig iron
2,904
2,606
11.4%
8,461
8,924
-5.2%
Pig iron (saleable)
126
44
184.3%
315
425
-25.9%
Crude steel
3,393
3,191
6.3%
10,131
10,788
-6.1%
Steel products, gross**
3,279
3,080
6.5%
9,783
10,493
-6.8%
Steel products, net of re-rolled volumes
3,028
2,867
5.6%
9,203
9,861
-6.7%
Semi-finished products ***
1,302
997
30.7%
3,741
3,477
7.6%
Finished products
1,726
1,870
-7.7%
5,462
6,384
-14.4%
Construction products
996
1,111
-10.3%
3,071
3,603
-14.8%
Railway products
341
344
-1.1%
1,092
1,152
-5.2%
Flat-rolled products****
143
169
-15.6%
464
556
-16.5%
Tubular products
100
114
-12.5%
407
623
-34.6%
Other steel products
146
132
11.1%
428
450
-4.8%
Note: numbers in this table and the tables below may not add to totals due to rounding.
* Includes production volumes of EVRAZ Highveld Steel and Vanadium (EHSV), which are not consolidated starting from April 2015 due to business rescue proceedings.
** Gross volume of steel products in the tables includes those re-rolled at other EVRAZ mills. However, such volumes are eliminated as inter-group sales for the purposes of EVRAZ's consolidated operating results.
*** Consolidated production volumes of semi-finished products are preliminary, as intra-group re-rolling volumes are yet to be finalised.
**** Includes production volumes of EVRAZ Palini e Bertoli (29kt in 9m 2016), which started to operate again in 2016 after being suspended in August 2013.
RUSSIA AND KAZAKHSTAN
Product, '000 tonnes 
Q3 2016
Q2 2016
Q32016/ Q22016, change
9m 2016
9m 2015
9m2016/ 9m2015, change
Coke (saleable)
90
121
-25.5%
281
247
13.8%
Pig iron
2,618
2,331
12.3%
7,638
8,030
-4.9%
Pig iron (saleable)
91
40
124.4%
265
356
-25.5%
Crude steel
2,790
2,579
8.2%
8,234
8,573
-4.0%
Steel products, gross
2,677
2,435
9.9%
7,781
8,062
-3.5%
Steel products, net of re-rolled volumes
2,599
2,371
9.6%
7,607
7,813
-2.6%
Semi-finished products
1,308
1,015
28.9%
3,716
3,556
4.5%
Finished products
1,291
1,356
-4.8%
3,891
4,257
-8.6%
 Construction products
882
947
-6.9%
2,650
3,076
-13.8%
 Railway products
275
286
-3.8%
845
773
9.4%
 Other steel products
134
123
9.3%
396
408
-3.0%
In Q3 2016, output of crude steel and steel products increased by 8.2% and 9.9% respectively, as production in Q2 2016 was affected by capital repairs at blast furnace 1 at EVRAZ ZSMK.
Quarterly output of steel products increased, mostly due to higher volumes of semi-finished products, up 28.9%, while output of construction products decreased by 6.9%, reflecting market conditions. 
Output of railway products, including rails, slightly decreased by 3.8% QoQ, due to changes in the product mix. The increase in output of railway products in 9m 2016 vs 9m 2015 is primarily attributableto operational improvements at EVRAZ ZSMK's rolling mill and more favourable demand in 2016.
Overall, steel prices in Q3 2016 were higher than in Q2 2016, following global benchmarks.
In Q4 2016, steel production is expected to remain at the level of Q3 2016.
Average selling prices
US$/tonne (ex works)
Q3 2016
Q2 2016
9m 2016
9m 2015
Coke
91
89
85
112
Pig iron
198
206
160
198
Steel products
Semi-finished products
294
256
240
276
Construction products
424
412
373
400
Railway products
516
470
467
553
Other steel products
388
411
368
421
NORTH AMERICA
Product, '000 tonnes 
Q3 2016*
Q2 2016
Q32016/ Q22016, change
9m 2016
9m 2015
9m2016/ 9m2015, change
Crude steel
339
320
5.7%
1,073
1,338
-19.8%
Steel products, net of re-rolled volumes
348
408
-14.7%
1,284
1,698
-24.4%
Construction products
59
70
-14.7%
194
204
-4.9%
Railway products
66
59
12.1%
247
379
-34.9%
Flat-rolled products
123
165
-25.7%
436
491
-11.2%
Tubular products
100
114
-12.5%
407
623
-34.6%
* Q32016 production volumes are preliminary
In Q3 2016, crude steel production increased by 5.7% QoQ. At EVRAZ Regina, steelmaking increased in preparation for a scheduled outage of around three weeks to make upgrades to the steelmaking and rolling mills. At EVRAZ Pueblo, steelmaking increased in preparation for a two-week planned maintenance outage.
Construction product output declined by 14.7% QoQ, driven by reduced demand for rod and bar products. 
Rail production increased by 12.1% QoQ, as a planned outage at a rail mill between June 11 and July 4 impacted Q2 2016 volumes.
Output of flat-rolled products decreased by 25.7%, as most service centre customers maintained very low inventories in response to weak demand.
Output of tubular products decreased by 12.5% QoQ. The OCTG and small-diameter line pipe markets remained under pressure due to low oil prices. For LDP, delays in pipeline approvals have resulted in lower production.
Prices for construction and tubular products decreased during Q3 2016, reflecting the prevailing dynamics of scrap and other input prices. In contrast, flat-rolled product prices increased QoQ, as plate prices peaked during July, when greater volumes were sold than the rest of the quarter.
Average selling prices
US$/tonne (ex works)
Q3 2016
Q2 2016
9m 2016
9m 2015
Construction products
512
530
512
678
Flat-rolled products
684
643
642
752
Tubular products
989
1,001
983
1,149
UKRAINE
Product, '000 tonnes 
Q3 2016
Q2 2016
Q32016/ Q22016, change
9m 2016
9m 2015
9m2016/ 9m2015, change
Coke (saleable)
190
169
12.1%
452
527
-14.2%
Pig iron
286
274
4.1%
823
744
10.7%
Pig iron (saleable)
36
4
n/a
49
69
-28.0%
Crude steel
264
291
-9.4%
824
729
13.1%
Steel products
234
233
0.7%
689
610
13.0%
Semi-finished products
167
130
29.1%
430
300
43.5%
Finished products
67
103
-34.9%
259
310
-16.6%
Construction products
55
94
-41.9%
227
275
-17.6%
Other steel products
12
9
38.8%
32
35
-8.4%
Saleable coke volumes increased QoQ in response to higher domestic demand.
Production of crude steel decreased by 9.4% QoQ, as cast slabs from inventories were used in output of steel products. Some of the pig iron was cast and sold.
Output of steel products was mostly flat QoQ. Changes in the production mix reflected improved demand for semi-finished products (mainly billets) and lower demand for construction products on export markets.
Prices for pig iron and steel products were lower than in comparable periods. Domestic steel prices moved in line with the decline in the Platts index. Export steel prices (primarily for billet) followed the downward market trend.
In Q4 2016, output of crude steel and steel products is expected to decrease QoQ, due to planned capital repairs at rail and structural mills.
Average selling prices
US$/tonne (ex works)
Q3 2016
Q2 2016
9m 2016
9m 2015
Coke (saleable)
154
129
136
176
Pig iron
204
263
202
247
Steel products
Semi-finished products
286
298
266
327
Construction products
386
398
364
420
Other steel products
522
587
499
616
IRON ORE
Product, '000 tonnes 
Q3 2016
Q2 2016
Q32016/ Q22016, change
9m 2016
9m 2015
9m2016/ 9m2015, change
Sinter (Russia)
2,705
2,463
9.8%
7,941
8,316
-4.5%
Pellets (Russia)
1,558
1,652
-5.6%
4,859
4,875
-0.3%
Lumpy ore (Ukraine)
639
782
-18.4%
1,946
2,115
-8.0%
Production of sinter increased by 9.8% QoQ, as sinter consumption in Q2 2016 was lower due to capital repairs at blast furnace 1 at EVRAZ ZSMK.
Output of pellets decreased in comparable quarters due to kiln repairs. 
Production of lumpy ore at EVRAZ Sukha Balka fell by 18.4% QoQ, due to a temporary suspension of mining operations. Production is expected to resume in October and output volumes to recover in Q4 2016.
Pellet prices decreased in Q3 2016, following the downward dynamics on the domestic market. Lumpy ore prices increased in Q3 2016, in line with global benchmarks.
In Q4 2016, sinter output is expected to be at the level of Q3 2016. Production of pellets is expected to increase, as no repairs are planned in Q4 2016.
Average selling prices
US$/tonne (ex works)
Q3 2016
Q2 2016
9m 2016
9m 2015
Pellets (Russia)
37
40
36
41
Lumpy ore (Ukraine)
25
22
22
23
COAL
Product, '000 tonnes 
Q3 2016
Q2 2016
Q32016/ Q22016, change
9m 2016
9m 2015
9m2016/ 9m2015, change
Raw coking coal (mined)
5,434
5,503
-1.3%
16,451
14,761
11.4%
Yuzhkuzbassugol
2,811
2,735
2.8%
8,739
6,785
28.8%
Raspadskaya
2,431
2,627
-7.5%
7,314
7,799
-6.2%
Mezhegeyugol
192
141
36.3%
398
177
124.7%
Coking coal concentrate (production)
3,566
3,707
-3.8%
10,863
10,169
6.8%
Production of raw coking coal in Q3 2016 was slightly lower than in Q2 2016. This reflected the lower output at the Raspadskaya mine due to longwall repositioning in Q3 2016. Production at Mezhegeyugol increased QoQ due to improved productivity.
Output of coking coal concentrate decreased by 3.8% QoQ, due to less coking coal being mined at the Raspadskaya mine.
In Q4 2016, production of raw coking coal at the Raspadskaya mine is expected to increase QoQ following the scheduled move of the 4-10-29 longwall face in September. Output of raw coking coal at Yuzhkuzbassugol's Osinnikovskaya and Erunakovskaya mines is expected to drop amid planned longwall moves in Q4 2016. 
The weighted average raw coking coal price decreased QoQ due to changes in the sales mix (lower sales of K-grade coal). The weighted average price of coking coal concentrate rose in Q3 2016, following global benchmarks. Coal prices are predominantly set quarterly, and a significant increase in coal prices is expected in Q4 2016.
Average selling prices
US$/tonne (ex works) 
Q3 2016
Q2 2016
9m 2016
9m 2015
Raw coking coal
30
34
31
33
Coking coal concentrate 
62
60
58
59
VANADIUM
Product, tonnes of V* 
Q3 2016
Q2 2016
Q32016/ Q22016, change
9m 2016
9m 2015
9m2016/ 9m2015, change
Vanadium slag, gross production
4,269
4,169
2.4%
12,536
13,891
-9.8%
 Russia
4,269
4,169
2.4%
12,536
12,102
3.6%
 South Africa
0
0
n/a
0
1,788
-100.0%
Vanadium in final products (saleable)
3,241
3,263
-0.7%
9,847
11,583
-15.0%
*Calculated in pure vanadium equivalent
** Includes production volumes of EVRAZ Highveld Steel and Vanadium (EHSV) and Hochvanadium, which are not consolidated starting from April 2015 due to business rescue proceedings.
Vanadium slag production increased by 2.4% QoQ, mostly due to higher output of pig iron at EVRAZ NTMK.
Output of final vanadium products decreased by 0.7% amid lower production of ferrovanadium due to a maintenance shutdown at Nikom in August and planned repairs at Vanady-Tula in September. This fall was partly offset by an increase in production of nitrovan at Vametco (SA), resulting from improved operational efficiencies.
In Q3 2016, the Metal Bulletin FeV80 index averaged US$18.5/kgV, up 0.3% compared with US$18.44/kgV in Q2 2016. Meanwhile, the Ryan's Notes index, used in North America, averaged US$22.02/kgV in Q3 2016, down 0.8% compared with US$22.2 $/kgV in the previous quarter. Sales prices for vanadium products followed the market dynamics.
Average FeV indices
US$/tonne of V
Q3 2016
Q2 2016
9m 2016
9m 2015
Metal Bulletin Ferro-Vanadium basis 78% min, free DDP, consumer plant, 1st grade, Western Europe
18.50
18.44
17.20
20.31
Ryan's Notes N.A. FeV 80% min, US ex-warehouse, duty paid
22.02
22.20
19.63
22.03
Notes:
Semi-finished products include slabs, billets, pipe blanks and other semi-finished products.
Construction products include beams, channels, angles, rebars, wire rods, wire, and other construction products.
Railway products include rails, wheels, tyres and other railway products.
Flat-rolled products include commodity plate, specialty plate and other flat products.
Tubular products include large-diameter line pipes, ERW pipes and casings, seamless pipes and other tubular products.
Other steel products include rounds, grinding balls, mine uprights, strips etc. For Ukraine, they also include railway products, and for South Africa rails.
###
For further information:
Media Relations: 
London: +442078328998  Moscow: +74959376871
media@evraz.com
Investor Relations:
London: +442078328990  Moscow: +74952321370
ir@evraz.com
EVRAZ is a vertically integrated steel, mining and vanadium business with operations in Russian, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, the US, Canada, the Czech Republic, Italy and South Africa. EVRAZ is among the top steel producers in the world based on crude steel production of 14.3 million tonnes in 2015. A significant part of the Group's internal consumption of iron ore and coking coal is covered by its mining operations. Consolidated revenues for the year ended 31 December 2015 were US$8,767 million and consolidated EBITDA amounted to US$1,438 million.

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