EVRAZ Q2 2015 production results

RNS Number : 3393T
Evraz Plc
17 July 2015
 



EVRAZ Q2 2015 PRODUCTION REPORT

17 July 2015 - EVRAZ plc (LSE: EVR) today releases its operational results for the second quarter of 2015.

 

Q2 2015 vs Q1 2015 OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:

·    Consolidated crude steel output reached 3.4 million tonnes in Q2 2015, down 14% QoQ as a result of deconsolidation of EVRAZ Highveld Steel and Vanadium (EHSV) as well as  repair and maintenance works at Russian steel mills.

·    Production of steel products, net of re-rolled volumes, went down by 14% QoQ as a result of the above-mentioned two factors as well as softer demand for tubular goods in North America.

·    The share of finished steel products within consolidated volumes grew to 65% in Q2 2015 from 61% in Q1 2015 due to lower production of semi-finished products in Russia resulting from shutdowns of billet casters for maintenance and a better demand for construction and railway products in Russia.

·    Production volumes of railway products rose driven by increased orders by Russian Railways and other CIS customers and continued demand from Class 1 railroads in the USA.

·    Production of tubular goods in North America declined as lower energy exploration activity, de-stocking at distributors, and usual spring break-up negatively affected OCTG demand.

·    Consolidated raw coking coal output and production of coking coal concentrate declined by 30% and 8% respectively QoQ due to lower output of both the Raspadskaya coal company and Yuzhkuzbassugol as a result of scheduled longwall moves and adjustment of production plans in response to weak market conditions.

 

STEEL

Product, '000 tonnes

Q2 2015

Q1 2015

Q2 2015/ Q1 2015, change

H1 2015

H1 2014

H1 2015/ H1 2014, change

Coke (saleable)

286

285

0.5%

571

528

8.0%

Pig iron

2,811

3,131

-10.2%

5,942

6,123

-3.0%

Pig iron (saleable)

165

71

133.7%

236

163

44.9%

Crude steel

3,380

3,914

-13.7%

7,293

7,792

-6.4%

Steel products, gross*

3,328

3,802

-12.5%

7,130

7,593

-6.1%

Steel products, net of re-rolled volumes**

3,150

3,640

-13.5%

6,791

6,922

-1.9%

Semi-finished products ***

1,109

1,433

-22.6%

2,543

1,921

32.4%

Finished products

2,041

2,207

-7.5%

4,248

5,001

-15.1%

Construction products

1,126

1,183

-4.8%

2,310

2,553

-9.5%

Railway products

427

400

6.9%

827

1,043

-20.7%

Flat-rolled products

166

207

-19.9%

373

572

-34.8%

Tubular products

173

255

-32.2%

428

523

-18.2%

Other steel products

148

162

-8.6%

310

310

0.0%

Note. Numbers in this table and the tables below may not add to totals due to rounding.

 

*     Gross volume of steel products in the tables includes those re-rolled at other EVRAZ's mills. However, such volumes are eliminated as intercompany sales for purposes of EVRAZ's consolidated operating results.

** Includes production volumes of EVRAZ Vitkovice Steel disposed of in April 2014 and of EVRAZ Highveld Steel and Vanadium (EHSV) which are not consolidated starting from April 2015 due to business rescue proceedings .

** Consolidated production volumes of semi-finished products are preliminary as Q2 2015 intra-group re-rolling volumes are yet to be finalised.

 

RUSSIA

Product, '000 tonnes

Q2 2015

Q1 2015

Q2 2015/ Q1 2015, change

H1 2015

H1 2014

H1 2015/ H1 2014, change

Coke (saleable)

96

76

26.1%

173

198

-12.5%

Pig iron

2,553

2,744

-6.9%

5,297

5,282

0.3%

Pig iron (saleable)

142

49

192.2%

190

149

27.8%

Crude steel

2,697

3,055

-11.7%

5,752

5,871

-2.0%

Steel products, gross

2,562

2,868

-10.7%

5,430

5,485

-1.0%

Steel products, net of re-rolled volumes

2,500

2,795

-10.6%

5,296

5,311

-0.3%

Semi-finished products

1,092

1,414

-22.8%

2,507

2,180

15.0%

Finished products

1,408

1,381

2.0%

2,789

3,130

-10.9%

Construction products*

991

981

1.0%

1,973

2,102

-6.2%

Railway products

281

258

9.2%

539

771

-30.1%

Other steel products

135

142

-4.5%

277

257

8.0%

* Includes 73kt and 64kt produced in Q1 2015 and Q2 2015 respectively by EVRAZ Caspian Steel mill in Kazakhstan

 

In Q2 2015, as a result of planned capital repair works of EVRAZ ZSMK's blast furnace 3 (14 days) and EVRAZ NTMK's blast furnace 6 (5 days) Russian steel mills produced 12% less crude steel and 11% less steel products than in Q1 2015.

 

Production of semi-finished steel products decreased by 23% QoQ due to shortage of pig iron, scheduled shutdown for reconstruction of a billet caster at EVRAZ ZSMK and a 5-day maintenance of a billet caster at EVRAZ NTMK.

 

Production of construction products grew by a moderate 1% QoQ reflecting some revival of domestic demand in the beginning of the construction season compared to seasonally weak Q1 2015.

 

Production of railway products, including rails, advanced by 9% due to larger shipments of rails and freight wheels to Russian Railways and stronger demand from the CIS clients.

 

In Q2 2015, prices for semi-finished products decreased in line with global benchmarks. Due to the Russian rouble appreciation, prices for construction products in US dollars terms were broadly unchanged QoQ.

 

Prices for railway products in US dollar terms improved due to changes in the product mix and the stronger rouble.

 

 

Average selling prices

USD/tonne (ex works)

Q2 2015

Q1 2015

H1 2015

H1 2014

Coke

136

85

114

130

Pig iron

205

206

205

306

Steel products





Semi-finished products

278

303

292

417

Construction products

419

418

418

594

Railway products

611

512

564

792

Other steel products

462

421

440

603

 

 

NORTH AMERICA

Product, '000 tonnes

Q2 2015

Q1 2015

Q2 2015/ Q1 2015, change

H1 2015

H1 2014

H1 2015/ H1 2014, change

Crude steel

428

477

-10.3%

905

971

-6.8%

Steel products, net of re-rolled volumes

541

615

-12.0%

1,156

1,260

-8.2%

Construction products

56

76

-26.3%

132

165

-19.9%

Railway products

146

142

2.8%

288

271

6.2%

Flat-rolled products

166

142

16.9%

308

301

2.4%

Tubular products

173

255

-32.2%

428

523

-18.2%

* Q2 2015 and H1 2015 production volumes are preliminary

 

During Q2 2015, the Company scheduled a 12-day maintenance outage at the Regina steel making facility and a 7-day outage at the Pueblo steel production facility which resulted in a 10% decrease in crude steel output compared to the previous quarter.

 

Within construction products, the Company sees strong underlying demand for rebar and wire rod, however high import levels continue to pressure down prices and volumes for North American producers.

 

Construction products (wire rod and HSS) output for the quarter declined 26% as a result of lower wire rod production and the sale of the Portland's structural tubing facility in March 2015 (which accounted for 12 thousand tonnes in the first quarter). The terms of sale for the structural tubing facility included a supply agreement for coil and therefore these volumes form part of Flat-rolled products starting in the second quarter.

 

Rail production further grew by 3% QoQ supported by continued demand from Class 1 railroads.

 

In Flat-rolled products, the market continued its de-stocking cycle. Third party saleable production for this segment increased 17% as volumes previously consumed by EVRAZ North America's OCTG and hollow structural shapes mills declined. During the quarter, the Company scheduled maintenance outages at the Portland and Regina mills. At Portland, a 17-day outage originally scheduled in the fourth quarter to perform a large portion of the work required to re-line the re-heat furnace was pulled-ahead into the second quarter. The balance of the work will be completed either during Q4 2015, or Q1 2016 depending on market conditions. In Regina, the Company carried out a 12-day outage to perform maintenance and carry out detailed engineering associated with the announced upgrades at the Regina steel making and rolling mills.

 

During Q2 2015, demand for OCTG products was exceptionally low as a result of de-stocking at distributors and the annual spring break-up period in Canada. Taken together, these two effects resulted in a 32% decrease in production in Q2 2015 vs. Q1 2015. During most of the quarter, operations were curtailed at the Pueblo seamless, Calgary, and Red Deer mills. During the last week of June, production resumed in limited volumes at the Pueblo seamless and Red Deer OCTG mills.

 

Prices for most steel products declined during the second quarter towards levels in-line with the general market that reflect prevailing scrap and plate prices across the product mix.

 

Average selling prices

USD/tonne (ex works)

Q2 2015

Q1 2015

H1 2015

H1 2014

Construction products

612

702

661

801

Flat-rolled products

718

904

806

948

Tubular products

1,089

1,280

1,185

1,312

 

 

UKRAINE

Product, '000 tonnes

Q2 2015

Q1 2015

Q2 2015/ Q1 2015, change

H1 2015

H1 2014

H1 2015/ H1 2014, change

Coke (saleable)

190

208

-8.9%

398

331

20.3%

Pig iron

258

236

9.3%

494

497

-0.7%

Pig iron (saleable)

23

22

4.8%

45

14

233.5%

Crude steel

254

233

9.3%

487

500

-2.6%

Steel products

225

196

14.6%

421

433

-2.7%

Semi-finished products

133

104

28.2%

237

224

6.0%

Finished products

92

92

-0.8%

184

209

-12.0%

Construction products

79

79

0.4%

158

171

-7.6%

Other steel products

13

14

-7.4%

26

38

-31.8%

 

In Q2 2015, due to better quality of iron ore products used in EVRAZ DMZ steel mill's pig iron production, output of pig iron and crude steel increased by 9% and of steel products by 15% compared to Q1 2015.

 

Production of semi-finished products for export surged by 28% QoQ driven by weaker demand for finished products.

 

In Q3 2015, volume of crude steel and steel products is expected to decrease as a result of scheduled maintenance works at a blast furnace (5 days) and rolling capacities in July.

 

Prices of steel products, primarily semi-finished products for export, were down in line with global benchmarks.

 

 

Average selling prices

USD/tonne (ex works)

Q2 2015

Q1 2015

H1 2015

H1 2014

Coke (saleable)

175

191

183

168

Pig iron

248

270

259

332

Steel products





Semi-finished products

325

350

337

450

Construction products

436

440

459

577

Other steel products

704

528

618

858

 

 

SOUTH AFRICA

 

Following introduction of business rescue proceedings at EVRAZ Highveld and Vanadium and it being managed by independent rescue practitioners since 14 April 2015, as of Q2 2015 its results are no longer consolidated .

 

 

IRON ORE

Product, '000 tonnes

Q2 2015

Q1 2015

Q2 2015/ Q1 2015, change

H1 2015

H1 2014

H1 2015/ H1 2014, change

Sinter (Russia)

2,595

2,837

-8.5%

5,432

5,717

-5.0%

Pellets (Russia)

1,629

1,631

-0.1%

3,259

3,147

3.6%

Lumpy ore (Ukraine)

726

667

8.8%

1,393

1,450

-3.9%

 

In Q2 2015, production of iron ore products (sinter plus pellets) in Russia fell by 5% QoQ mostly due to decrease of production of sinter (-9%) by EVRAZ ZSMK's sintering plant as a result of scheduled maintenance works at EVRAZ ZSMK's sintering machine.

 

In Ukraine, production of lumpy ore went up by 9% QoQ due to a renewed order for Fe 56% content iron ore from a large Ukrainian steel producer located close to Donetsk region and increased export shipments to MENA.

 

In Q2 2015, prices for iron ore products decreased in line with global benchmarks.

 

Average selling prices

USD/tonne (ex works)

Q2 2015

Q1 2015

H1 2015

H1 2014

Pellets (Russia)

41

47

44

83

Lumpy ore (Ukraine)

21

32

25

61

 

 

COAL

Product, '000 tonnes

Q2 2015

Q1 2015

Q2 2015/ Q1 2015, change

H1 2015

H1 2014

H1 2015/ H1 2014, change

Raw coking coal (mined)

3,840

5,467

-29.8%

9,307

9,760

-4.6%

Yuzhkuzbassugol

1,510

2,626

-42.5%

4,137

5,334

-22.4%

Raspadskaya

2,270

2,802

-19.0%

5,072

4,427

14.6%

Mezhegeyugol

60

39

53.96%

98

0

n/a

Coking coal concentrate (production)

3,119

3,382

-7.8%

6,501

6,669

-2.5%

Raw steam coal (mined)

41

0

n/a

41

757

-94.6%

 

Coking coal

 

In Q2 2015, production of coking coal concentrate by EVRAZ declined by 8% QoQ as both Yuzhkuzbassugol and Raspadskaya coal companies mined less raw coal:

-     The 43% decrease in mined raw coking coal volumes by Yuzhkuzbassugol is attributed to scheduled longwall moves at its Yerunakovskaya VIII, Osinnikovskaya and Yesaulskaya mines.

-     Additionally, in response to deteriorating market conditions and Russian rouble appreciation making unprofitable some of export sales, the Raspadskaya coal company curtailed its mining volumes of coking coal at its Raspadsky Razrez open pit and MUK-96 underground mine. Two longwall moves began at the Raspadskaya underground mine at the end of June. Taken together, these two factors resulted in a 19% reduction of raw coking coal production by the Raspadskaya coal company.

 

In Q2 2015, the weighted average price of coking coal concentrate in US dollar terms increased compared to Q1 2015 due to the Russian rouble appreciation and higher share of premium coking coal grades sold in the Russian market which to a large degree offset the decreasing export prices.

 

Average selling prices

USD/tonne (ex works)

Q2 2015

Q1 2015

H2015

H2014

unless otherwise stated

Raw coking coal

39

31

36

49

Coking coal concentrate

68

56

61

77

 

 

VANADIUM

Product, tonnes of V*

Q2 2015

Q1 2015

Q2 2015/ Q1 2015, change

H1 2015

H1 2014

H1 2015/ H1 2014, change

Vanadium in slag (gross production)

3,834

5,917

-35.2%

9,751

10,404

-6.3%

Vanadium in final products (saleable)

3,276

5,199

-37.0%

8,475

9,610

-11.8%

* Calculated in pure vanadium equivalent

 

In Q2 2015, consolidated Vanadium slag production was 35% down compared to Q1 2015 as EVRAZ Highveld's slag volumes are no longer presented in the report following deconsolidation of EVRAZ Highveld's results since April 2015 due to business rescue proceedings. Excluding EVRAZ Highveld, the decrease would be 7%, or 3,834 tonnes of V produced in Russia compared to 4,129 tonnes in Q1 2015, due to lower pig iron production at EVRAZ NTMK.

 

Production of final vanadium products decreased by 37% QoQ, mostly following deconsolidation of Hochvanadium, a EVRAZ Highveld's subsidiary, as well as due to lower production of oxides, vanadium aluminum and chemicals at EVRAZ Stratcor in the USA driven by a one-month shutdown of the plant in April due to lack of feedstock.

 

Average Q2 2015 quotations for ferrovanadium decreased QoQ with Metal Bulletin FeV80 price index lowering by 2.9%, while North American Ryan's Notes FeV80 index declined by 13.7%. EVRAZ's average selling price mirrored descending price levels.

 

 

Average FeV indices

USD/tonne of V

Q2 2015

Q1 2015

H1 2015

H1 2014

Metal Bulletin Ferro-vanadium basis 78% min, free DDP, consumer plant, 1st grade Western Europe

21,206

21,850

21,528

26,101

Ryan's Notes N.A. FeV 80% min, US ex-warehouse, duty paid

21,522

24,948

23,235

29,321

 

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, for South Africa - rails.

 

 

###

 

For further information:

 

Media Relations:

London: +44 207 832 8998                               Moscow: +7 495 937 6871

media@evraz.com

 

Investor Relations:

London: +44 207 832 8990                              Moscow: +7 495 232 1370

ir@evraz.com

 

 

EVRAZ is a vertically integrated steel, mining and vanadium business with operations in the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, USA, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy and South Africa. EVRAZ is among the top steel producers in the world based on crude steel production of 15.5 million tonnes in 2014. A significant portion of the company's internal consumption of iron ore and coking coal is covered by its mining operations. The company's consolidated revenues for the year ended 31 December 2014 were US$13,061 million, and consolidated EBITDA amounted to US$2,325 million.

 


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