OREANDA-NEWS. ОАО Raspadskaya (MICEX-RTS: RASP) announces its preliminary operating results for Q2 and H1 2015.

In H1 2015, overall raw coal production reached 5.1 mt, up 15% yoy mainly due to substantial production increase at the Raspadskaya underground mine.

Sales volumes of coking coal concentrate increased by 9% in H1 2015 yoy to reach 3.0 mt. The main reason behind that was the increase in export sales in Q1 2015which wasdriven by higher margins as a result of the Russian rouble weakening.

Domestic sales of coking coal concentrate went down 7% in H1 2015 yoy and reached 1.4 mt, mainly due to the lower coking coal consumption at EVRAZ's enterprises as a result of a successful implementation of the pulverised coal injection technology. In addition, a number of Russian steel companies have reduced their purchases due to higher coal production at their own mines. The released coking coal concentrate volumes were reallocated to other Russian clients and to the premium markets of South-East Asia (Japan, Korea).

Exports of coal concentrate reached 1.7 mt, or 57% of total sales, with 82% shippedh to the Asia-Pacific region and 18% shipped to Europe. The growth in export sales came as a result of increased sales to the Asia-Pacific region.

Raw coal sales volumes went down by 29% in H1 2015 yoy due to longwall move at Raspadskaya-Koksovaya and reached 425 kt. Operations at this mine are expected to 2 be stable in H2 2015.

The weighted average selling price of coal concentrate increased by 38% in H1 2015 in Russian rouble terms yoy mostly due to the year-on-year growth of the RUB/US dollar exchange rate.