Commenting on February results, A. Pogozhev, director of manufacturing, noted that Severstal met higher production and shipment goals as compared with the corresponding period of 2002, having adjusted to the higher demand in the market.

In February, repairs of main equipment units, particularly the blast furnace #3, the third converter and the Continuous Casting Machine #3 were underway. However, in spite of that the steel mill was able to maintain daily output at the January level.

In March, intend to increase daily output of rolled steel which would be possible due to the completion of overhaul of equipment in the blast furnace and oxygen converter shops and increased production of cast iron and steel. Severstal plans to produce and ship 766,500 tonnes of rolled steel in March.

04 March 2003