Steel Mills

NLMK USA Q1 Outage Results in 42% Drop in Production
Written by Sandy Williams
April 16, 2015
NLMK Group reports steel output was down 6 percent in first quarter 2015 to 3.87 million tonnes (4.27 million tons). The decrease was due to scheduled maintenance at NLMK USA and the Lipetsk plant. Group utilization rates were 96 percent for Q1. Sales grew by 3 percent quarter over quarter to 3.96 million tonnes (4.37 million tons), supported by a 13 percent increase in international sales. NLMK expects stronger results in second quarter due to increased domestic seasonal demand and return to normal production at NLMK USA and Lipetsk.
NLMK USA total rolled steel sales were 4.28 million tonnes (4.7 million tons) in first quarter, down 11 percent from the previous quarter and 6 percent year over year due to weaker demand.
Crude steel output of 90,000 tonnes (99,000 tons) suffered a 42 percent q/q and 44 percent y/y decline due to scheduled maintenance of the EAF at NLMK Indiana during Q1. Output was offset by shipments of semi-stocks delivered from Lipetsk at the end of 2014 in preparation for the outage.
Finished steel sales were down 11 percent q/q and 6 percent y/y to 430,000 tonnes (473,985 tons) due to competition from imports. HRC and galvanized steel sales fell 18 percent q/q and 23 percent q/q, respectively, but was partially offset by a 15 percent q/q increase in CRC.
NLMK USA includes NLMK Indiana, NLMK Pennsylvania, and Sharon Coating.

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Mills

Domestic mill shipments slip in July: AISI
US steel shipments decreased month over month in July, but were up from last year, according to the latest figures from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

Nippon and USS drop litigation vs. USW and Cliffs
Another chapter of the Great U.S. Steel Buyout of the 2020s melodrama has closed, with all involved parties terminating the litigation disputes between them.

Steel Summit: Analysts say demand likely to struggle until 2027
Steel industry analysts at this year's SMU Steel Summit said they see lackluster demand through this year and next.

USS Clairton begins full production of batteries 19 and 20, 13 and 14 hot idled
U.S. Steel has activated batteries 19 and 20 at its Clairton Coke Works facility after pausing each “out of an abundance precaution” following an explosion at the site on Aug. 11.

Steel Summit: Schneider sees SDI ‘on the edge of a very good run’
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) President and Chief Operating Officer, Barry Schneider, remains bullish about the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based steelmaker’s position in the current market.