OREANDA-NEWS. Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company OJSC (KTK, MICEX: KBTK), one of the largest producers and exporters of thermal coal in Russia, today announced operating results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

In the third quarter of 2014 the Company produced 2.79 million tonnes of coal, which is 1% less than foreseen in the previously published production plan. Coal production increased by 13% Q-o-Q and by 12% Y-o-Y. The volume of commercial products grew by 12%, to 2.47 million tonnes. Compared to the year-ago quarter, the volume of the Company's commercial products declined by 1%.

Coal processing amounted to 2.13 million tonnes, which is 21% more than in the previous quarter and 18% more than in the third quarter of 2013. Third quarter total coal washing fell by 1%, to 0.79 million tonnes, of which 69% relates to the Kaskad 2 washing plant. The volume of coal sorting grew by 35% compared to the second quarter of 2014 and amounted to 1.72 million tonnes.

The volume of stripping in the third quarter was 14.54 million cbm and fell by 5% Q-o-Q. The volume of blasted rock mass was 9.15 million cbm, an increase for the quarter by 3%. The share of blasted rock in the stripping was 63%. Third quarter average stripping transportation distance stood at 2.80 km, same as in the previous quarter and 7% less than in the year-ago quarter. The average stripping ratio in the quarter saw a decrease by 16% Q-o-Q and 12% Y-o-Y and reached 5.20 which is 2% above management expectations.

In the third quarter sales grew by 53% versus the volume of the previous quarter, reaching 2.89 million tonnes of coal. Year-on-year, this figure shows a contraction by 3%. Third quarter export sales increased by 24%, to 2.00 million tonnes, due to the sale of reserves previously stocked at the storages in Poland. For the quarter, the share of export in total sales fell to 69%.

Third quarter average selling price of coal rose by 18% compared to the second-quarter figure, amounting to RUB 1,059 per tonne. The quarterly average price hike was caused by a price increase in the domestic market, due to the heating season start in Eastern Siberia, and a gradual sales volume recovery as part of a new sales model in Poland. Compared to the year-ago quarter, the average price dropped by 8%.

For the nine months of 2014 the Company produced 7.59 million tonnes of coal, which is 3% more than in the previous corresponding period. Vinogradovsky open-pit mine was the main contributor to this growth and produced 2.90 million tonnes of coal, adding 17% Y-o-Y. Commercial product volume for nine months stood at 6.69 million tonnes, a contraction of 9% in yearly terms. This decrease in volume paired with production growth is due to a washing increase at Kaskad 2.

Coal processing amounted to 6.29 million tonnes, which is 4% lower than in the nine months of 2013. The share of processed coal in the commercial products was 94%. The total coal washing in the nine months grew by 45% to 1.62 million tonnes. The volume of coal sorting fell by 5% Y-o-Y and stood at 3.97 million tonnes.

During the nine months of 2014 stripping volume rose by 2% Y-o-Y and amounted to 45.04 million cbm. The volume of blasted rock mass was 26.81 million cbm, an increase by 31%. The average stripping ratio in the period dropped by 2% Y-o-Y and reached 5.90.

In the nine months of 2014 sales decreased by 8% versus the volume of the previous corresponding period, reaching 6.89 million tonnes of coal. Export sales stood flat in yearly terms, at 5.08 million tonnes, representing 74% of total sales. Domestic market coal sales declined by 25% Y-o-Y, to 1.81 million tonnes. The volume of coal purchased for resale dropped by 53%, to 0.47 million tonnes, to support sales of own coal.

For the nine months of 2014 the average selling was RUB 1,041 per tonne, a drop of 3% over a year-ago period. Exports to Asia-Pacific were the main driver for average selling price decrease.

On November 25, 2014 the Company is planning to release its unaudited IFRS financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. A conference call to discuss the financial results and ask questions will be held the same day at 5:00 PM Moscow time (UTC +4:00).

Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company OJSC (KTK, MICEX: KBTK) is one of the largest manufacturers17 and exporters of thermal coal in Russia. Production assets of the Company include three current and one projected opent-pit mines in Kemerovo region, two washing plants and own railroad infrostructure located in the same industrial cluster. The Company operates a retail network in 4 regions of Siberia, supplying over 400 thousands households and over thousand of public and commercial boilers. The company employs over 4,400 people. Shares of KTK are traded on MICEX, the free float is 34.39%.