Iron ore concentrate production declined as logistic roads disrupted and the consumption at Mariupol factories sharply decreased

In January-March 2022, Metinvest Group reduced the production of iron ore concentrate (total) by 21% compared to the same period last year, to 6.13 million tons. Compared to the previous quarter, the figure fell by 20%, press release of the parent company Metinvest B.V., published on the group’s website, reads.

According to the company, the decline in concentrate production was due to the full-scale hostilities in Ukraine. Russian aggression has caused the logistic disruptions, blockade of Black Sea ports, as well as a sharp decline in intragroup consumption by Mariupol plants.

In January-March, Metinvest reduced the production of marketable iron ore products by 16% compared to the first quarter of 2021, to 4.07 million tons. Compared to the previous quarter, the output of iron ore concentrate did not change.

Production of commercial concentrate decreased by 10%, to 2.79 million tons, mainly due to lower production at Ingulets Mining.

According to the results of three months, the total production of coking coal concentrate decreased by 14% compared to the previous quarter, to 1.276 million tons. Compared to the first quarter of last year, the growth was 29% due to the consolidation of the Pokrov Coal Group.

The production of coal concentrate at the mines of the United Coal Company (USA) in January-March 2022 decreased by 85 thousand tons by the first quarter of 2021 due to deteriorating geological conditions.

Earlier GMK Center reported that in 2021 Metinvest increased steel production by 15% compared to 2020, up to 9.5 million tons. Production of pig iron in 2021 increased by 15%, up to 9.7 million tons, and total concentrate by 3%, up to 31.34 million tons.