NLMK USA Sales Up for Q2 and H1

NLMK USA sold 538,000 tonnes (593,033 net tons) of steel in the second quarter of 2014, an increase of 17.8 percent following low sale volumes in first quarter due to unfavorable weather conditions. Steel sales for the first half of 2014 totaled 994,000 tonnes (1.095 million net tons) due to stronger US demand, an increase of 10 percent year over year.

Second quarter rolled steel output increased by 19.7 percent quarter over quarter to 541,000 tonnes (596,340 net tons). At NLMK Indiana, electrical equipment repairs led to crude steel production falling by 7.2 percent q/q to 157,000 tonnes (173,059 net tons). NLMK USA steel capacity utilization rate was at 81.4 percent for the quarter.