March 19, 2020 - Mechel PAO (MTLR.ME)(MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, announces 2019 operational results.

Mechel PAO's Chief Executive Officer Oleg Korzhov commented on operational results.

"For us, 2019 became a year of major equipment reconstruction projects in our steel segment and restoring the equipment pool in our mining division. We have seen results of this effort at Southern Kuzbass Coal Company as early as the end of last year - starting in October, the company reached a monthly output level of 1 million tonnes and demonstrated a confident growth of all key results, with mining volumes up by 25%. Korshunov Mining Plant improved its annual output by 30%. In the steel segment, we completed a large-scale reconstruction of one of our three blast furnaces and one of three converters. This will increase these facilities' output by 15% and thus our overall steel output in 2020. Reconstruction of one of Bratsk Ferroalloys Plant's ferroalloy furnaces is also nearly complete.

"In 2019 we have invested a lot of effort in maintaining coal mining at the previous levels as our stripping volumes increased dramatically. We did this both by launching new mining equipment and by bringing in third-party contractors. It is important to note that at Southern Kuzbass Coal Company we managed to implement the strategy of increasing mining of valuable coking coal grades as new longwalls at V.I. Lenina Underground and Sibirginskaya Underground mines were launched.

"As for the coal market situation, this accounting period was very volatile as prices for premium hard coking coal were very good in the first half a year, staying near the level of $200 per tonne, but starting mid-year, the prices began to decline and reached less than $130. In August-October we have traditionally signed a series of major contracts, with customers both old and new, and ensured ourselves guaranteed sales for the year ahead. Demand for coal from our customers in Asia Pacific remains strong as we have foreseen. China and South Korea were among that market's key players who increased import of both coking and thermal coal. As for Mechel's sales, in 2019 we have decreased sales to China by a quarter, redistributing them in favor of Japan's market which is more profitable for us. In 2020, the coal market is still volatile, and considering the coronavirus situation, may remain so for several months yet.

"Coking coal concentrate sales in 2019 remained largely at the previous year's level. 29% of our overall coking coal concentrate sales went to Japan, 27% to China and 24% to our Russian customers.

"PCI sales went up by 15% primarily due to increased export to South Korea.

"Thermal coal sales remained roughly at 2018 levels. We redistributed sales in favor of more profitable Asian markets, increasing exports to this region by half, with sales to our Vietnamese customers nearly quadrupling.

"The output increase at Korshunov Mining Plant, achieved thanks to our technical upgrade program, had a positive impact on iron ore concentrate sales - sales to third-party clients went up by 38% year-on-year.

"Coke sales to third parties went up by 36% as stockpiles freed due to repairs at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant's blast furnace #4 were sold to export, including Turkey and India.

"Due to a large-scale upgrade of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant's blast-furnace and oxygen-converter workshops, pig iron and steel output in this accounting period went down by 8% and 7% accordingly. With this in mind, we have optimized our operations so as to partially compensate for the output decrease by improving its profitability. Long rolls sales went down by 8%, but sales of shapes and sections produced by the plant's universal rolling mill went up by 2%, and rails by 15%. Rail sales, both domestic and international, nearly doubled - not counting shipments made to Russian Railways.

"Flat rolls sales went down by 7%. At the same time, we have upped sales of stainless flats 2.5 times, with a significant raise of the average price. In this product segment, we are consistently increasing our share of the Russian market as per our strategy.

"The 10-percent decrease in sales of Bratsk Ferroalloys Plant's products was due to the ore-thermal furnace #3 being halted for an upgrade. Its relaunch is scheduled for late March. Bratsk Ferroalloys Plant's upgrade was synchronized with similar works undertaken at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant, as the latter needed less ferroalloy products during major repairs of its own steelmaking facilities. Third-party sales remained at the same level as high-quality ferrosilicon was redirected from the domestic market to Asia.

"Hardware sales went down by 9%, this time due to decreased output of various types of wire at Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant and Mechel Nemunas as this segment faced an unfavorable market situation, as well as introduction of import quotas and fees for shipments to the European Union and Ukraine.

"Sales of forgings went down by 9% year-on-year as demand hit a major seasonal slump in late 2019. Stampings sales went down by 25% as sales of the most mass product, rough-forged axles for railway transport, declined. In this segment, we staked on the increase in sales of high-priced products - stampings made of alloyed, stainless and heat-resistant steels. Aviation companies are key consumers of this type of product.

"Our power division's facilities in 2019 produced more electricity by 4% in accordance with operational plans regarding the load on Southern Kuzbass Power Plant. The decrease in heat output by 6% was due to prevalent warmer temperatures."

To read the full 2019 operational results with financial figures included, click here.