MOSCOW, RUSSIA / ACCESSWIRE / August 18, 2022 / Mechel PAO (MOEX:MTLR, NYSE:MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, reports 1H2022 and 2Q2022 operational results.

Mechel PAO's Chief Executive Officer Oleg Korzhov commented on the results:

"The upward trend for average commodity and steel product prices, which began in 2021, also persisted in 1Q2022, but started to weaken gradually in 2Q2022. In July-August prices continued to slump. We consider the positive price dynamics early in the year a result of resurging global demand following several waves of the coronavirus pandemic.

"The investment program aimed at upgrading the mining equipment led to increased mining volumes both quarter-on-quarter and and in 1H2022 compared to 1H2021.

"The decrease in coal product sales in 1H2022 was due to two factors - high figures of 1H2021, when the company successfully managed to sell off significant stockpiles, and limited carrying capacity of railroads leading to Far Eastern ports in 2Q2022.

"Anthracite sales in 2Q2022 went up by 36% due to stockpiles accumulated earlier at Southern Kuzbass Coal Company.

"Thanks to our investment program, Korshunov Mining Plant increased output and sales -iron ore sales went up by 18% in 1H2022 year-on-year and by 36% in 2Q2022 quarter-on-quarter. Nearly all of that iron ore goes to Mechel Group's own Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant.

"In this reporting period, domestic coke sales went down due to a slump in demand from Russian steelmakers, as did exports as sales to Western countries were limited.

"The steel division demonstrated stable operations in this reporting period, as steel and pig-iron output went up by 7% and 6% accordingly. Customer fears of possible supply interruptions in 1Q2022 fueled demand for long rolls. Starting in 2Q2022, due to export limitations and domestic oversupply, demand trends turned downward. Negative price trends for almost every kind of steel product persist to this day. We increased sales of long steel by 6%. Sales of flat steel went down by 10%.

"The overall decrease in hardware sales was 1% in 1H2022 year-on-year and 16% in 2Q2022 quarter-on-quarter, due to a slump in domestic demand for wire. At the same time, in 2Q2022 we managed to expand our client base for Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant's wire ropes, and sales of this high-margin type of hardware surged up 9% quarter-on-quarter.

"In 1H2022, forgings sales went up by 8%, primarily due to increased output of stainless products as well as the effect of comparing against low-key results of the same period last year. In the second quarter, domestic forgings sales remained at the previous quarter's level, and the 44-percent decrease of the overall forgings sales was due to limitations introduced by Europe and supply chain interruptions.

"In 1Q2022, wagonbuilders actively replenished their stock of railway axles, which reflected on the 1H2022 stampings sales. However, in the second quarter the trend has reversed and sales dropped 32% quarter-on-quarter.

"Bratsk Ferroalloys Plant's ferrosilicon sales went down 5% due to changes in the logistical supply chains.

"The 26-percent decrease in electricity generation in 1H2022 was due to planned repairs and maintenance at the company's heat and electricity generators. The four-percent decrease in heat generation was due to higher temperatures during the heating period of 2022."

Production (thousand tonnes):

Sales (thousand tonnes):

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Mechel PAO
Ekaterina Videman
Tel: + 7 495 221 88 88
ekaterina.videman@mechel.com

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Mechel is an international mining and steel company. Mechel unites producers of coal, iron ore concentrate, steel, rolled products, ferroalloys, heat and electric power. All of its enterprises work in a single production chain, from raw materials to high value-added products.

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Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of Mechel, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements. We refer you to the documents Mechel files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in our Form 20-F, that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, the achievement of anticipated levels of profitability, growth, cost and synergy of our recent acquisitions, the impact of competitive pricing, the ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and licenses, the impact of developments in the Russian economic, political and legal environment, volatility in stock markets or in the price of our shares or ADRs, financial risk management and the impact of general business and global economic conditions.

SOURCE: PJSC Mechel