Severstal reports Q4 & FY 2016 operational results

Severstal reports Q4 2016 & FY 2016 operational results

Moscow, Russia - 20 January 2017 - PAO Severstal (MICEX-RTS: CHMF; LSE: SVST), one of the world's leading vertically integrat--ed steel and steel-related mining companies, today announces its operational results for Q4 2016 & FY 2016.

Q4 2016 GROUP HIGHLIGHTS 

· Hot metal output remained largely flat, decreasing 1% to 2.36 mln tonnes (Q3 2016: 2.39 mln tonnes) against the previous quarter, mainly due to short-term maintenance works at BF#5 and BF#4 at Cherepovets Steel Mill (CherMK).

· Crude steel production decreased 2% to 2.92 mln tonnes (Q3 2016: 2.98 mln tonnes). Crude steel output at CherMK was impacted by scheduled short-term maintenance of continuous caster #4 and the billet caster.

· Despite lower crude steel output, consolidated steel product sales increased 5% q/q to 2.78 mln tonnes compared to the previous quarter (Q3 2016: 2.65 mln tonnes). During Q4, the Company sold-off stocks (accumulated during the previous quarter) in response to higher domestic demand for hot-rolled and long products. An uptick in semi-finished product sales was influenced by stronger demand in export markets and higher availability of production capacity in comparison with Q3 when Severstal accumulated steel inventories to standard levels after planned maintenance works.

· Reflecting the above, the share of domestic steel products sales volumes in the sales mix increased to 62% (Q3 2016: 60%).

· The refurbishment of the four-stand cold rolling mill at CherMK was completed in May 2016. This resulted in mill capacity increase by 200,000 tonnes per annum. Meanwhile, in Q4 cold-rolled coil sales volumes increased 15% q/q, following the increase of 5% q/q achieved in Q3.

· Despite improved cold rolled coil sales, the share of high value-added (HVA) products in the sales portfolio decreased marginally to 40% (Q3 2016: 42%) mainly impacted by growth of semi-finished product sales and a seasonal decline in galvanised and colour-coated product sales.

· The Severnaya mine, where operations remain suspended following the accident in February 2016, will be sealed off to avoid the risk of airflow causing further underground fire and explosions in the mine. The decision was made by the Technical Commission, comprising representatives of AO Vorkutaugol and the Russian authorities. Experts are now considering a safe method for sealing off the mine for the foreseeable future as well as the extraction of its resources through the adjacent Komsomolskaya mine, which is currently expected to start in 2020. Meanwhile the Company has completed compensation payments to all those affected.

· Spot hard coking coal prices continued to grow in October and peaked in November. HCC prices started to decline in response to returning Chinese supply with the relaxation of its 276 days policy. This trend is expected to continue in 2017, whilst remaining sensitive to changing Chinese policy. During Q4, iron ore prices surged more than 20% because of increasing demand, relatively high steel production and speculative futures trading. Steel prices in China were driven up 25% by high raw material prices compressing the margins of Chinese steel producers. Capacity cuts in China and pollution control initiatives also improved the outlook for the steel supply-demand balance. Russian HRC export prices replicated the dynamics of Chinese export prices. Russian HRC domestic prices in rouble terms have also increased despite significant rouble appreciation in Q4.

SUMMARY OF KEY PRODUCTION, SALES VOLUMES AND SELLING PRICES DATA

SEVERSTAL'S CONSOLIDATED SALES (NET OF INTERCOMPANY SALES)

SEVERSTAL RESOURCES

· With the Severnaya sealed-off to avoid further risk of underground explosion, total coking coal sales at Vorkutaugol for 2016 decreased 27% compared with the previous year. The Company currently expects to begin extraction of the Severnaya mine resources via the adjacent Komsomolskaya mine in 2020.

· Meanwhile, in Q4 coking coal concentrate sales from Vorkutaugol declined further, by 12% q/q to 0.80 mln tonnes (Q3 2016: 0.91 mln tonnes) impacted by scheduled long-wall repositionings at the Vorkutinskaya mine and the sell-off of stock during Q3. As anticipated, internal coking coal concentrate procurement decreased 8% and external sales volumes decreased by 38% q/q.

· Steam coal sales at Vorkutaugol increased 27% q/q driven by improved demand from domestic consumers during the heating season.

· Iron ore concentrate sales volumes decreased 19% q/q to 0.92 mln tonnes (Q3 2016: 1.13 mln tonnes) mainly impacted by seasonal factors.

· Iron ore pellet sales remained largely flat at 2.79 mln tonnes (Q3 2016: 2.79 mln tonnes) with seasonally lower export demand being offset by an increase in internal procurement.

SEVERSTAL RUSSIAN STEEL ('RSD')

· RSD steel product sales increased 5% q/q to 2.79 mln tonnes due to the fact that the Company sold-off its stocks accumulated in the previous quarter in response to higher domestic demand for hot-rolled and long products.

· This resulted in an increase in domestic deliveries within the sales-mix to 62% in Q4 2016 (Q3 2016: 60%).

· Cold-rolled coil sales improved further by 15% q/q following completion of the refurbishment of the four-stand cold rolling mill at CherMK in May 2016.

· High demand in the domestic market drove sales volumes of hot-rolled coil up 6% q/q. Reallocation of hot-rolled plate internal shipments to the market allowed the Company to increase sales of plate by 29%. An increase in semi-finished product sales was influenced by stronger demand in export markets and higher availability of production capacity in comparison with Q3 when Severstal accumulated steel inventories to standard levels after planned maintenance works. At the same time, the Company increased its stocks of galvanized and colour-coated products in response to seasonally weaker demand in the domestic market.

· As a result, the share of HVA products within the sales mix slightly decreased to 40% (Q3 2016: 42%), despite an increase in cold rolled coil sales volumes q/q.

· Large diameter pipes (LDP) sales volumes decreased 35% q/q mainly reflecting lower LDP sales by Izhora Pipe Mill for the Gazprom maintenance projects and production of lighter LDP's. Meanwhile, Izhora Pipe Mill keeps full utilisation rates and continues supplying LDPs for the Gazprom, Transneft and other customers.

· Average selling prices for most steel products increased 1-11% q/q, depending on the specific product, reflecting the upward adjustment in global steel prices, driven by raw material spot price growth in Q4. Meanwhile, galvanized, colour-coated and LDP prices decreased q/q due to seasonally weaker demand.

1) All production data is reported in metric tonnes;

2) Sales prices are stated on EXW basis;

3) Segmental data includes intercompany sales;

4) Semi-finished products include pig iron, slabs, billets, ingots, steel casting and forgings;

5) Metalware sales volumes and metalware average selling prices include Severstal Metiz, Severstal Distribution LLC and AO Severstal Distribution data;

6) Large diameter pipes include all pipes with a diameter between 820 and 1420 mm.

Investor Relations

Evgeny Belov

T: +7 (495) 926-77-66 ext. 6445

[email protected]

Vladimir Zaluzhsky

T: +7 (495) 926-77-66 ext. 6375

[email protected]

Public Relations

Anastasia Mishanina

T: +7 (495) 926-77-66 ext. 6457

[email protected]

Severstal's financial communications agent - Hudson Sandler

Andrew Hayes / Elena Garside / Alex Brennan

T: +44 (0) 20 7796 4133

PАО Severstal is one of the world's leading vertically integrated steel and steel related mining companies, with assets in Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Poland and Italy. Severstal is listed on RTS and MICEX and the company's GDRs are traded on the LSE. Severstal reported revenue of $6,396 million and EBITDA of $2,096 million in 2015. Severstal's crude steel production in 2015 reached 11.5 million tonnes. www.severstal.com