Arcelor Mittal Temirtau cuts cast iron product by 50%, but keeps up steel output

Arcelor Mittal Temirtau has cut down cast iron output by nearly 50%, Frank Pannier, the general director of Arcelor Mittal Temirtau, said.

"In order to maintain the regular operation mode, we have made a tough decision to cut production to the minimum. Earlier we produced nearly 11,500 tons of cast iron per day, now we are making just 6,000 tons," he told reporters on Wednesday in Astana.

"This is approximately 50% of the pervious production and this is the exact volume we have the demand for," he added.

As a result of the cut in the cast iron, Pannier said, "cold rolling and galvanizing of tin plate have slowed down dramatically."

"Hot rolling mill is working around the clock. Tin plate workshop is standing idle, cold rolling and galvanizing units are operating one shift a day," he said.

Pannier said that the company has met only 10% of the projected sales of tin plate in December and sold 20% of the planned galvanized sheet and gold rolled mill products. He, however, reassured the reporters that "the situation will smooth out in spring, as these products have a seasonal demand."