Russian steelmaker Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) has announced its production and sales data for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2012. According to the company statement, NLMK's crude steel output in the fourth quarter decreased to 3.7 million mt, down 2.6 percent compared to the previous quarter. In 2012, the crude steel output of the company reached 14.9 million mt, up 24.7 percent year on year.

At the main production site in Novolipetsk, crude steel output decreased by two percent quarter on quarter to 3.027 million mt in the fourth quarter. In 2012, Novolipetsk crude steel production jumped by 25 percent year on year, totaling 12.2 million mt.

The total steel product sales volume of NLMK Group in the fourth quarter was 3.696 million mt, down 3.1 percent compared to the previous quarter. In the fourth quarter, NLMK’s total sales volume of steel products from its main site at Novolipetsk increased to 3.1 million mt, up 7.3 percent quarter on quarter.

For the full year, NLMK Group's total steel product sales volume increased to 15.203 million mt, up 18.4 percent year on year, while the total sales volume of steel products from its main site at Novolipetsk reached 12.1 million mt, increasing by 22 percent compared to 2011.

NLMK also stated that its steel output is expected to move sideways in the first quarter of 2013. The beginning of 2013 has brought a mild improvement in pricing due to finished product restocking and a corresponding revival in demand, as well as growth in raw material prices.