Zaporizhstal increased the production of rolled products by 48.7% m/m in July

The production volume of cast iron for the month increased by 31.6% m/m, and steel – by 51% m/m

In July 2023, the Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works increased the production of rolled steel by 48.7% compared to the previous month – to 196.1 thousand tons. It is stated in the press release.

In June, the volume of pig iron production increased by 31.6% compared to July – up to 262,000 tons. Steel output for the month increased by 51% m/m – up to 240.7 thousand tons.

«The increase in the level of production in July 2023 compared to the same period last year is connected with the removal of blast furnace №2 from the hot preservation mode and the adjustment of the operating mode of three blast furnaces,» the message states.

Compared to July last year, in July 2023, Zaporizhstal increased the production of pig iron by 88.4%, steel – by 2.7 times, and rolled steel – by 2.45 times.

In January-July 2023, production output at Zaporizhstal increased by 16.1% year-on-year – up to 3.71 million tons. In particular, the plant produced:

• pig iron – 1.41 million tons (+10.6% y/y);
• steel – 1.26 million tons (+24.5%);
• rolled goods – 1.04 million tons (+14.4%).

In March 2023, Zaporizhstal took out the blast furnace №2 from forced hot preservation. The blast furnace was supposed to reach its planned capacity in the first decade of April.

At the end of May 2023, Zaporizhstal reported on shutdown of blast furnace №3 for overhaul Class II. Investments in the restoration of the unit were planned at the level of UAH 200 million. On June 19 the plant announced on the completion of blast furnace repairs and the start of unit inflation. By the end of the month, the BF should have reached full capacity. The blast furnace repairs are likely the result of reduced production in June compared to May.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2022 Zaporizhstal reduced pig iron output by 54.3% compared to 2021 – to 2.01 million tons. Steel smelting decreased by 61.7% – to 1.49 million tons, and the production of rolled products – by 60.4%, to 1.304 million tons.