OREANDA-NEWS. April 15, 2009. OAO Raspadskaya (RTS and MICEX: RASP), one of Russia’s leading coking coal producers, has announced today its preliminary operating results for 1Q2009.

The global financial crisis and a drop in the output of the Russian steel industry affected our prices and sales volumes of coal concentrate as compared to the trouble-free 2008.


The weighted average sales price in 1Q2009 was 1,586 rubles or about USD 47 on FCA Mezhdurechensk basis per 1 tonne of coal concentrate. The sales volume of coal concentrate amounted to 1.3 million tonnes.


The sales volume of coal concentrate for 1Q2009 has increased by 63 % as compared to 4Q2008.
In 1Q2009, the Company continued to work in the frames of long-term relations with large Russian customers (MMK, Evraz, NLMK, Altay-Koks), developed its relationships with middle-volume consumers (Urals Steel, Mechel, Kemerovo-Koks), used its ability for short-term trade. In addition to the domestic sales, starting February 2009, the Company recommenced export sales – to Ukraine and Hungary.

Gennady Kozovoy, Raspadskaya’s CEO, commented:

“For several months, Raspadskaya operated at minimum levels of production and sales volumes which deteriorated our operating and financial results. Starting February 2009, we have increased our sales to 65% of those before the crisis period. In March 2009, the sales volume reached more than 70% which allowed us to partially stabilize the Company’s operations.
Starting 2Q2009, the Company will increase export share in its sales through sales to South-East Asia.”