Severstal Q2 2022 and 6m 2022 operational results

 

Moscow, Russia – 21 July 2022 – PAO Severstal (MOEX: CHMF; LSE: SVST) consolidated steel sales decreased by 6% yoy in 6m 2022. Iron ore products consolidated sales were 57% lower yoy due to export constraints, while coal sales almost disappeared from consolidated results following Vorkutaugol divestiture.

 

KEY CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONAL RESULTS

 

	Q2 2022	Q1 2022	qoq	6m 2022	6m 2021	yoy
Production, kt
Hot metal	2,428	2,878	-16%	5,305	5,301	0%
Crude steel	2,403	2,922	-18%	5,325	5,737	-7%
Sales, kt
Steel products, incl:	2,269	2,726	-17%	4,994	5,308	-6%
HVA	1,077	1,272	-15%	2,349	2,530	-7%
Iron ore products	716	281	>100%	997	2,334	-57%
Coal	6	22	-72%	29	628	-95%

 

Q2 2022 Consolidated operational results

• Production: Hot metal output fell by 16% qoq to 2.43 mln tonnes. Crude steel production decreased by 18% qoq to 2.4    mln tonnes, due to repairs rescheduled to Q2 2022 to balance actual capacities and narrowing demand for steel.
• Steel sales declined by 17% qoq to the 2.27 mln tonnes, affected by difficult access to export markets coupled with the declining demand in the domestic market. Sales  of HVA amounted to 1.08 mln tonnes (-15% qoq) with the decline in sales of cold-rolled and galvanized steel as well as tubes other than LDP.

• Total share of high value-added (HVA) products was flat at 47%.
• Raw materials sales: Iron ore sales to third parties increased to 0.72 mln tonnes, driven by a lower Cherepovets steel mill demand for raw materials. Coal sales amounted only to 6 k tonnes as a result of sale of Vorkutaugol in the end of April 2022.

 

6m 2022 Consolidated operational results

• Production: Hot metal output was flat yoy at 5.3 mln tonnes. Crude steel production decreased by 7% yoy to 5.32    mln tonnes, as a result of converter repairs which was rescheduled to Q2 2022.
• Steel sales were down by 6% yoy to 5 mln tonnes, due to limited access to export markets followed by a decrease in the domestic demand. Semis sales were 12% higher yoy due to strong sales of pig iron to the USA in Q1 2022. Commercial steel sales were lower by 9% yoy to 2 mln tonnes as a result of import ban imposed by the European Union in March 2022. HVA sales reduced to 2.35 mln tonnes (-7% yoy) mainly due to decline in galvanized steel and metalware sales.

• Total share of high value-added (HVA) products amounted to 47% (-1 ppts yoy).
• Raw materials sales: Iron ore sales to third parties reduced by 57% yoy to 1 mln tonnes, due to a redistribution of sales to Cherepovets steel mill.

 

HEALTH AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE

• In 6m 2022 LTIFR among employees amounted to 0.83 (+51% yoy). The overall LTIFR among employees and contractors was 0.81 (+23% yoy). The main reason for the growth is the increase in the number of reported cases of minor injuries, while the number of cases of severe injuries remained at the same level, and the number of fatalities decreased.
• In Q2 2022 no fatalities occurred. In 6m 2022 one fatality involving a contractor’s employee occurred. We conducted an internal investigation for the case and took measures to eliminate the causes of fatality. The incident was caused by OHS requirements violation and misuse of a loading and hauling machine.

 

POLLUTANTS AND GHG EMISSIONS

• Total emissions of air pollutants decreased by 44% qoq to 72,800 tonnes in Q2 2022.
• In 6m 2022 total emissions of air pollutants decreased by 20% yoy to 202,280 tonnes due to a decline in production at Cherepovets steel mill and JSC Vorkutaugol's spin-off from the Company.
• Gross GHG emissions (Scope 1 and 2) decreased by 7% as a result of JSC Vorkutaugol's disposal from the Company on April 29, 2022 and a decrease in production at Cherepovets steel mill.
• The intensity of greenhouse gas emissions of steel production increased by 5%, mainly due to non-optimal loading of technological units as a result of the volume of production decrease.

 

ALEXANDER SHEVELEV, CEO OF SEVERSTAL MANAGEMENT, COMMENTED:

The first half of 2022 was extremely challenging for Russian steelmakers and Severstal. Against the background of sanctions pressure, we were forced to take urgent steps to preserve the stability of the business. Thus, after the complete shutdown of exports to the EU countries, we had to redirect sales to other, less marginal markets, as well as rebuild our supply chain of inventory to ensure the operation of enterprises. Due to the ongoing restructuring of the company's processes, we made the difficult decision not to disclose the financial results for the Q1 and Q2 2022. But we plan to return to this practice in the future.

The difficult access to exports followed by a decrease in the domestic demand, a sharp strengthening of the ruble and the decline in domestic prices altogether put a pressure on the company's results. Consolidated steel sales were down by 6% yoy to 5 mln tonnes in H1 2022 with the most difficult Q2 2022 - a drop in steel sales for April-June amounted to 17%. As a result of difficulties in sales, we were forced to revise the production program. This led to the fact that steel production decreased by 7% YoY to 5.32 mln tonnes and utilization rate decreased to 75%. At the same time, there was an increase in the cost of production, mainly due to inflationary pressure from transport costs and tariffs of natural monopolies.

Despite the difficult situation, we continue to fulfill our social obligations and in April indexed the salaries of all employees, as well as paid a one–time remuneration - as a result, the average salary for the company increased by 15%. We also continue our environmental protection activities and participation in the federal Clean Air project.

The company's management and staff continue to make active efforts to minimize the negative impact of external factors on the company's business. Severstal has an effective business model and a high level of underlying strength, as it has been engaged in cost reduction, product quality improvement and customer experience improvement for many years. However, in the face of unprecedented challenges, the impact of which is only increasing in the third quarter, we are forced to move to more radical cost reduction programs.

The anti-crisis plan developed by the company's management, which is designed to ensure the company's stability even in the event of a negative development of the situation, involves a comprehensive audit of all the company's business processes and optimization of the least effective projects and initiatives in the medium term. By the end of this year, we aim to reduce administrative costs, personnel costs and outsourcing by a total of 10%. The management will make every effort to preserve the company's team, key competencies and expertise accumulated over the years.

In addition, we will focus on improving the efficiency of procurement and maintenance programs, as well as continue to examine the investment program and to optimize it, primarily through initiatives with a long-term payback. We are confident that the well-coordinated work of the company's management and staff and the accumulated experience in improving the efficiency of processes will allow us to remain competitive in this difficult period."

 

SEGMENT PERFORMANCE

 

 

Severstal Russian Steel (RSD)

 

Sales, kt	Q2 2022	Q1 2022	qoq	6m 2022	6m 2021	yoy
Steel sales	2,277	2,737	-17%	5,014	5,333	-6%
Semis	180	464	-61%	644	577	12%
Commercial	1,020	1,000	2%	2,020	2,224	-9%
HVA	1,078	1,272	-15%	2,350	2,532	-7%

 

Q2 2022 results

 

• Steel sales lost 17% qoq and amounted to 2.28 mln tonnes mainly due to lower sales of pig iron and slabs because of high exposure of semis to export markets. As a result, semis sales fell by 61% qoq to 0.18 mln tonnes. Commercial steel sales increased by 2% qoq to 1.02 mln tonnes on the back of Russian market recovery for long steel products. HVA product sales also decreased by 15% to 1.08 mln tonnes mainly due to decline in demand for tubes other than LDP and cold-rolled steel in Russia and followed by a simultaneous decrease in export of galvanized steel.

 

• Total share of high value-added (HVA) products increased to 47% (+1 ppts qoq).

 

6m 2022 results

 

• Steel sales declined by 6% yoy to 5.01 mln tonnes affected by export constrains. Semis sales were higher by 12% yoy due to strong sales of pig iron to the US in the Q1 2022. But commercial and HVA steel sales decreased  by 9% yoy and 7% yoy respectively, due to decline in export sales, which was partially compensated by reallocation of sales to the domestic market.

 

• Total share of high value-added (HVA) products was flat at 47%.

 

 

Severstal Resources

 

Sales, kt	Q2 2022	Q1 2022	qoq	6m 2022	6m 2021	yoy
Coal	304	1,327	-77%	1,631	2,448	-33%
Coking coal concentrate	298	1,307	-77%	1,605	1,893	-15%
Steam coal	6	20	-68%	26	554	-95%
Iron ore	4,197	4,089	3%	8,286	8,801	-6%
Iron ore pellets	2,378	2,398	-1%	4,776	5,646	-15%
Iron ore concentrate	1,819	1,691	8%	3,510	3,155	11%

 

Q2 2022 results

 

• Coal sales dropped by 77% qoq to 0.3 mln tonnes as a result of completed sale of Vorkutaugol in the end of April 2022. Coal will be not included in division results in future periods anymore.

 

• Iron ore sales increased by 3% qoq to 4.2 mln tonnes: stronger iron ore concentrate sales (+8% qoq to 1.82 mln tonnes) were provided with higher sales to 3rd parties in the Russian market. Pellets sales decreased by 1% qoq to 2.38 mln tonnes due to lower demand from Cherepovets steel mill.

 

6m 2022 results

 

• Coal sales decreased by 33% yoy to 1.63 mln tonnes.

 

• Iron ore sales lost 6% yoy and amounted to 8.29 mln tonnes due to the stop of pellets export to the EU in March 2022. Iron ore concentrate sales increased by 11% yoy to 3.51 mln tonnes due to stable demand from 3rd parties in the Russian market.

 

ANNEX*

 

 

1. Consolidates sales by product

 

Sales volumes, Kt	Q2 2022	Q1 2022	qoq	6m 2022	6m 2021	yoy
Coal:	6	22	-72%	29	628	-95%
Coking coal concentrate	0	3	-100%	3	73	-96%
Steam coal	6	20	-68%	26	554	-95%
Iron ore:	716	281	>100%	997	2,334	-57%
Iron ore pellets	485	268	81%	754	2,287	-67%
Iron ore concentrate	231	13	>100%	244	47	>100%
Steel:	2,269	2,726	-17%	4,994	5,308	-6%
Semi-finished products	180	464	-61%	644	577	12%
Pig iron	57	222	-74%	279	66	>100%
Slabs	123	242	-49%	365	511	-29%
Hot-rolled steel:	996	1,062	-6%	2,059	2,293	-10%
incl. Hot-rolled high value added	185	215	-14%	400	412	-3%
Cold-rolled steel	230	276	-17%	507	537	-6%
Galvanized steel	185	231	-20%	416	530	-21%
Colour coated coil	100	94	7%	194	202	-4%
Long steel	200	142	41%	342	320	7%
Metalware	108	141	-23%	248	317	-22%
Large diameter pipes	133	81	65%	215	135	59%
Other tubes, pipes, formed shapes	129	225	-43%	353	397	-11%
Steel solutions	7	10	-29%	17	0	>100%

 

2. Russian Steel Division average prices by main products

 

Sales price, RUB/tonne

Q2 2022

Q1 2022

qoq

6m 2022

6m 2021

yoy

Pig iron	24,742	41,869	-41%	38,366	39,290	-2%
Slabs	19,108	45,203	-58%	36,420	43,466	-16%
Hot-rolled steel	58,455	67,316	-13%	63,027	54,285	16%
Long products	48,851	58,838	-17%	53,073	45,686	16%
Average selling price	62,819	69,732	-10%	66,592	59,486	12%

 

 

3. Environmental protection data

Kt	Q2 2022	Q1 2022	qoq	6m 2022	6m 2021	yoy
Total emissions of air pollutants (Group), kt	72.8	129.68	-44%	202.28	253.94	-20%
Emissions of air pollutants (Severstal Russian steel), kt	53.37	74.05	-28%	127.23	140.95	-10%
NOx, kt	2.67	2.9	-8%	5.64	5.65	0%
SOx, kt	5.13	6.25	-18%	11.38	14.35	-21%
CO, kt	41.38	60.4	-31%	101.78	112.35	-9%
VOC, kt	0.12	0.13	-8%	0.25	0.23	10%
Particulate matter, kt	3.56	3.98	-10%	7.54	7.82	-4%
Emissions of air pollutants (Severstal Resources), kt	19.43	55.62	-65%	75.05	112.99	-34%
NOx, kt	1.08	1.49	-28%	2.56	3.54	-28%
SOx, kt	16.6	20.02	-17%	36.62	45.00	-19%
CO, kt	0.51	1.1	-53%	1.61	2.23	-28%
VOC, kt	0.13	0.14	-3%	0.27	0.23	16%
Particulate matter, kt	1.05	1.76	-40%	2.81	4.31	-35%
Specific air emissions (Severstal Russian steel), kg/t of steel	21.7	24.89	-13%	23.41	24.15	-3%

 

 

* Totals may differ from the sum of rows due to rounding

4. GHG emissions data

	Q2 2022	Q1 2022	qoq	6m 2022	6m 2021	yoy
Greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 + Scope 2), million tonnes of CO2-eq.	6.28	7.99	-21%	14.27	15.26	-7%
Direct greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1), million tonnes of CO2-eq.	6	7.5	-20%	13.5	14.27	-5%
Indirect Energy Emissions of Greenhouse Gases (Scope 2), million tonnes of CO2-eq.	0.28	0.49	-43%	0.77	0.99	-22%
GHG intensity, tonnes of CO2/t of steel**	2.33	2.19	6%	2.26	2.16	5%

 

** According to the methodology of the Worldsteel Association

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Severstal Investor Relations Vladimir Zaluzhsky, Nikita Klimantov T: +7 (495) 926-77-66

vladimir.zaluzhsky@severstal.com na.klimantov@severstal.com

 

Severstal Public Relations

Anastasia Mishanina T: +7 (495) 926-77-66

anastasia.mishanina@severstal.com

 

 

 

***

PАО Severstal is one of the world's most efficient metals and mining companies, creating new products and integrated steel solutions together with its customers and partners. The company’s assets are located in Russia, Latvia and Poland. Severstal is listed on MOEX and the company's GDRs are traded on the LSE. Severstal reported revenue of $11.6 billion and EBITDA of $6.0 billion in  2021. Severstal’s crude steel production in 2021 reached 11.6 mln tonnes. www.severstal.com