Ukrainian flat steel producer Zaporizhstal, partially owned by Metinvest, has begun production of a new DC01 grade cold rolled coil in widths of 1,500mm with cut edges for key client Marcegaglia Poland.
The development of this product lasted three months.
This is the fourth new product type for Zaporizhstal in 2021, the plant claims. Earlier, it expanded the size range of DC01 CRC, and began production of hot rolled coil with boron microalloying, as well as SAE 1006 HRC.
In 2020, Zaporizhstal produced eight new types of HR and CR steel. In 2021 it plans to offer seven new types of products.
The plant increased steel output in January-September to 2.93 million tonnes of crude steel, up by 5.6% on-year (see Kallanish passim). Pig iron production was down 0.6% to 3.3mt but rolled products output rose 4% to 2.46mt.
In September alone, Zaporizhstal reduced pig iron production by 13.9% on-year to 332,900 tonnes, after it completed the overhaul of blast furnace No.4. Crude steel output decreased by 12.9% to 284,500t and production of rolled products declined 22.7% to 213,700t.
In 2020, Zaporizhstal increased pig iron production but steel output decreased.
Metinvest is exploring the possibility of building an electric arc furnace mill in Ukraine for an investment estimated at $3.5-4 billion. The new complex will include two direct reduction iron modules, two EAFs and two casters. Zaporizhstal’s steel plant could also switch to EAF steelmaking in future.
Svetoslav Abrossimov Bulgaria
