Russian steelmaker NLMK Group has announced sales growth of 17.6Mt, up 7% year-on-year. Steel output was up 2% to 17.5Mt and steel capacity utilisation rate was 99%.

The company claims that its sales growth was supported by a + 20% year-on-year growth of semi-finished product sales to 6.8Mt, but finished product sales remained flat year-on-year at 10.8Mt. HVA sales increased by 3% to 5Mt.

Sales in home markets decreased insignificantly by just 1% to 10.56Mt, while sales growth in export markets totalled 17%. Sales in home markets continue to account for the bulk of group sales, with a 61% share.