AMKR to increase iron ore exports to EU

ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih (AMKR) will increase shipments of iron ore concentrate to European countries by reducing its own demand for raw materials, the company tells Kallanish.

In May, AMKR plans to export 450,000 tonnes of this concentrate, of which 100,000t will be loaded through a new loading point worth UAH 10 million ($334,000).

“We have updated the equipment for loading concentrate in our mining department, which makes it possible to increase the volume of exports of this raw material,” an AMKR spokesperson says.

Previously, the company used 80% of the concentrate for its own steelmaking. However, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, AMKR was forced to switch its production units into hot conservation mode.

On 11 April, the company resumed production of pig iron at one of the three blast furnaces, No.6, which provides approximately 20% of total capacity. AMKR iron ore mines are currently operating at 50-60% of capacity.

“The launch of a new concentrate loading point is a prerequisite for our mining department to send 50% more concentrate to Europe than before the war,” says AMKR general director for mining Volodymyr Tesliuk.

Last month, AMKR said it will increase production of iron ore concentrate to 500,000t in preparation for resuming steelmaking (see Kallanish passim).

The company is actively working with Ukrainian railway carrier Ukrzaliznytsia to increase its shipments to Europe. Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, AMKR exported almost 80% of its product through Black Sea ports, but this is now impossible due to the war.

Earlier, the company announced it had started negotiations with the Polish government over using Poland’s Baltic Sea ports to export steel produced in Ukraine.

Since the outbreak of war and risks involved, AMKR has postponed the construction of its new captive iron ore pelletising facility.

Svetoslav Abrossimov Bulgaria