The Kametstal plant, part of the Metinvest mining and metallurgical group (Kamensk, Dnipropetrovsk region), has significantly increased its production of continuously cast steel billets using the stop casting technology due to increased demand.
According to the company, one of the current trends in the metal market is increased demand for continuously cast steel billets using the stop casting technology.
“Thanks to systematic measures, the team at Kametstal’s converter shop exceeded its initial targets for this year and achieved a monthly production of 15,000 tons of high-quality billets at the continuous casting machine (CCM-1), which is twice as much as last year’s monthly production volumes,” the press release states.
At the same time, it is noted that the development and improvement of steel casting technology using stop mechanisms on the continuous casting machine (CCM) No. 1 remains in the focus of the company’s specialists, as it allows them to obtain metal with higher requirements for chemical composition and macrostructure, which yields higher profits than conventional billets. One of the primary goals set by the steelmakers is to increase the production of billets using this technology, and they are persistently pursuing this goal. This year, 58,433 thousand tons of high-quality billets have already been cast on the first machine, thus exceeding the annual production volume for 2024 by more than 5 thousand tons in eight months.
“Among the priority measures for achieving ambitious goals is the development and improvement of the parameters for the automatic start of the machine’s streams during stop casting, which has a positive effect on the quality and productivity of casting by minimizing the human factor in the process. While at the beginning of 2025, successful starts of the continuous casting machine in “Auto Start” mode accounted for almost 80%, today, technologists are already performing more than 90% of successful starts without switching to manual mode,” the plant emphasizes.
Also this year, as part of the program to upgrade the main steelmaking equipment, an investment project was implemented – during the first stage of reconstruction at continuous casting machine No. 1, frequency converters and cable and wire products were replaced, and the software was updated. As a result, the operation of the pulling stoves has improved, and thus the smoothness of pouring and the stability of launches.
After the implementation of this investment project, the first machine achieved a record production of high-quality hot-rolled coils in July – 16,159 thousand tons, while last year the maximum monthly production of such products was 8,256 thousand tons.
An important vector is the increase in the seriality of melts during stop casting of steel. Additional technological measures have made it possible to achieve an average seriality of almost six melts this year, while the average seriality in 2024 was 5.3 melts.
As reported, Metinvest will invest more than UAH 2.5 billion in the modernization of Kametstal in 2025.
Kametstal is part of the Metinvest Group.
Metinvest Mining and Metallurgical Group sells 30% of its metal products on the domestic market in Ukraine and supplies 70% to foreign markets, according to the company’s chief operating officer (COO) Alexander Mironenko in an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
“About 30% of metal companies’ products are sold on the domestic market, while 70% are sold on foreign markets. Most of the products are exported to European countries that share a border with Ukraine or to Southeast Europe, which is where the majority of our rolled metal products are shipped. We also supply rolled products (mainly coil) to the Middle East and Asian countries. A small portion of pig iron is sent to the US, and some is shipped to China through ports,” the agency’s interlocutor explained.
Regarding iron ore products, he noted that China is the main consumer of Metinvest’s iron ore concentrate and pellets. At the same time, approximately 60% of iron ore concentrate is shipped to China through Ukrainian ports.
The company’s iron ore raw materials are also consumed by Northern European countries, with volumes there increasing over the past 1.5 years following a significant improvement in the quality of Metinvest’s iron ore pellets.
“We ship our iron ore products to Northern European countries in order to conquer a new market there,” said Mironenko.
The top manager added that Northern GOK has almost reached its pre-war levels: it has two quarries in operation and a fully loaded enrichment plant. Both roasting machines, LURGI 552A and LURGI 552B, are involved in pellet production, operating alternately depending on the pellet production tasks.
According to him, Southern GOK has also now reached pre-war production volumes. The Central GOK is operating below pre-war volumes: there are two quarries where mining has been suspended, but the enrichment plant is operating at almost 80% capacity, receiving ore from other quarries for enrichment.
He added that Ingulets Mining and Processing Plant is currently at a standstill: “There is a small amount of ore mining and concentrate production for technological purposes – volumes are up to 40,000 tons per month, which is a kind of maintenance mode.”
As reported, in early August this year, the United Mining and Processing Plant (UMPP) of the Metinvest Group, comprising the Central, Ingulets, and Northern Mining and Processing Plants, brought the Artemivsk (Central Mining and Processing Plant), Hannivsk (Northern Mining and Processing Plant), and Kolachevsky (Central Mining and Processing Plant) quarries and mines up to their design capacity.
Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical enterprises. Its enterprises are located in Ukraine – in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions – as well as in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The main shareholders of the holding are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the managing company of the Metinvest Group.
As part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative, mining and metallurgical group Metinvest has handed over 33 vehicles – pickups and off-road vehicles – worth a total of UAH 25 million to a brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard.
According to a press release, the group continues to enhance the mobility of Ukrainian units on the front lines.
It is specified that the vehicles were purchased across Europe and are mainly high-clearance vehicles that have already proven themselves in combat conditions. Among those handed over are Mitsubishi L200, Volkswagen Amarok, VW Transporter, and other models. Some of the vehicles are equipped with additional protection and reinforced running gear.
The transfer of equipment took place taking into account the needs of the brigade: some of the vehicles are already on combat missions, while the rest are being retrofitted.
“For Metinvest and Steel Front, this is systematic work – we regularly provide the military with transport, electronic warfare equipment, shelters, drones, and other equipment. This batch of vehicles is another step in this support strategy,” commented Alexander Vodoviz, Head of the CEO’s Office at Metinvest.
Metinvest, Ukraine’s largest mining and metallurgical holding, reduced steel production by 13% year-on-year to 908,000 tons in January-June 2025, according to its operating results for the period.
According to a press release from the parent company Metinvest B.V. on the results of its operating activities for Q2 2025, total iron ore production for this period also decreased by 13% compared to January-June 2024, to 7.725 million tons.
At the same time, the production of marketable iron ore concentrate (MIOC) decreased by 8% compared to the first half of 2024, to 7.528 million tons. Together with the total production of MIOC in the first half of 2025, it decreased by 13%, to 7.725 million tons.
It is noted that coke production in January-June 2025 decreased by 5% compared to the first half of 2024, to 5%, to 535 thousand tons.
At the same time, it is specified that in the second quarter of 2025, pig iron and steel production at the Kame-Stal Metallurgical Plant decreased by 19% and 14%, respectively, compared to the previous quarter and the first quarter of 2025, to 353 thousand tons and 420 thousand tons, due to the shutdown of blast furnace No. 9 for major repairs in April-June 2025. In the first half of 2025, pig iron production amounted to 789 thousand tons, which is 11% less than in the same period last year, due to the aforementioned overhaul of furnace No. 9 at Kametstal and a temporary technological shutdown at the pulverized coal fuel (PCF) site in March 2025. This led to a decrease in steel production to 908 thousand tons, or 13% less than in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Against the backdrop of a decline in pig iron production and an increase in domestic consumption of billets at subsequent stages of production, the output of semi-finished products decreased in the second quarter of 2025 by 26% compared to the previous quarter, to 128 thousand tons; in the first half of 2025, by 20% compared to the same period last year, to 301 thousand tons.
In the second quarter of 2025, finished product output increased by 5% compared to the previous quarter and amounted to 628 thousand tons. In particular: flat steel production increased by 11% to 289,000 tons, mainly due to growth in orders for hot-rolled coils at Ferriera Valsider (Italy).
Long product production remained almost at the previous quarter’s level and amounted to 339,000 tons, with output at Kametstal increasing by 4%.
In the first half of 2025, finished product production increased by 3% compared to the same period in 2024. In particular, long product production increased by 5% thanks to higher volumes at Kametstal, while flat product production remained almost unchanged from the previous period.
In the second quarter of 2025, coke production increased by 6% compared to the previous quarter, to 275,000 tons, mainly due to the emergency shutdown of Zaporizhkox in February due to military operations. In the first half of 2025, coke production decreased by 5% to 535,000 tons compared to the same period last year due to the decommissioning of coke oven battery No. 1 at Kametstal.
In the second quarter of 2025, the production of total iron ore concentrate and marketable iron ore products remained almost at the level of the previous quarter and amounted to 3.910 million tons and 3.767 million tons, respectively. At the same time, due to the shutdown of the roasting machine at the Central GOK for major repairs in May 2025, iron ore concentrate production increased by 5% to 2.175 million tons, while the output of pellets decreased by 6% to 1.592 million tons.
In the first half of 2025, total iron ore concentrate production decreased by 13% compared to the same period last year due to the shutdown of the Ingulets GOK in July 2024. This was partially offset by an increase in volumes at the Northern GOK – by 47% due to increased production at the Hannivskyi open pit, as well as at the Central GOK – by 22% due to increased iron ore supplies from third parties. At the same time, the production of marketable iron ore products decreased by 8%, including concentrate by 16%, while the output of marketable pellets increased by 3%.
In December 2024, due to the intensification of hostilities and the approach of the front line, the production site of the Pokrovsk Coal Group was suspended. Subsequently, against the backdrop of power outages and a further deterioration in the security situation, production at the mine and enrichment plant was suspended.
As a result, starting in 2025, coal concentrate production has been concentrated exclusively at United Coal Company (USA). In the second quarter of 2025, coal concentrate production fell to 518,000 tons, down 10% from the previous quarter, due to the deterioration in the quality of coking coal.
In the first half of 2025, coal concentrate production decreased by 53% to 984,000 tons due to the shutdown of the Pokrovsk Coal Group.
As reported, Metinvest increased steel production by 4% in January-March this year compared to the same period last year, but decreased by 1% compared to the previous quarter, to 488,000 tons. Total iron ore production for this period decreased by 15% compared to January-March 2024, but increased by 11% compared to the previous quarter, to 3.761 million tons.
At the same time, the production of commercial iron ore concentrate (CIO) decreased by 27% compared to Q1-2024 and increased by 7% compared to the previous quarter, reaching 2.064 million tons. Total production of IRC in Q1 2025 decreased by 21% compared to Q1 2024 and increased by 17% compared to the previous quarter, reaching 3.815 million tons.
At the same time, Metinvest increased its production of pellets by 7% compared to Q1 2024 and by 9% compared to Q4 2024, to 1.697 million tons. but reduced its total output of coking coal concentrate by 52% in Q1 2024 and by 51% compared to the previous quarter, to 518 thousand tons. Coke output in January-March 2025 decreased by 8% compared to Q1 2024 and by 6% compared to Q4 2024, to 260 thousand tons.
As reported, Metinvest increased steel production by 4% in 2024 compared to 2024, to 2.099 million tons, while total iron ore production increased by 42%, to 15.733 million tons. At the same time, commercial iron ore concentrate production increased by 58% to 14.826 million tons. Coke output in 2024 decreased by 10% to 1.122 million tons. At the same time, Metinvest increased its total production of pellets by 14% to 6.022 million tons, but reduced its total output of coking coal concentrate by 22% to 4.277 million tons.
Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical enterprises. Its enterprises are located in Ukraine, in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as well as in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The main shareholders of the holding company are the SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the managing company of the Metinvest Group.
Zaporizhia enterprises of the mining and metallurgical group Metinvest – Zaporizhstal, Zaporizhogneupor, Zaporizhkox, and Zaporizhzhya Foundry and Mechanical Plant (ZLMP) – increased their transfers to budgets of all levels by 20% in January-June this year compared to the same period last year, totaling almost UAH 1.7 billion in taxes and fees.
According to a press release issued by the group on Wednesday, Metinvest Group companies also remain among the largest taxpayers in Zaporizhia. Tax revenues to local budgets for the first half of 2025 amounted to over UAH 543 million, which is 10% higher than in the first six months of 2024.
In the structure of taxes and fees for this period, the largest in terms of volume were single income tax and single social contribution payments. It should be noted that in April 2025, Metinvest raised salaries for employees of production and service enterprises, including in Zaporizhia, by up to 20%.
A significant share of deductions also falls on environmental and land taxes, as well as military levies.
Taking into account associated companies and joint ventures, Metinvest Group paid UAH 9.3 billion in taxes and fees to budgets of all levels in Ukraine in the first half of 2025.
Zaporizhstal is a joint venture of the Metinvest Group, whose main shareholders are System Capital Management (71.24%) and Smart Steel Limited (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the managing company of the Metinvest Group.
In January-June of this year, the mining and metallurgical group Metinvest, including its associated companies and joint ventures, transferred UAH 9.3 billion to budgets of all levels in Ukraine, compared with UAH 9.9 billion in the same period last year.
According to the company’s press release on Monday, the three largest payments were subsoil use fees, which amounted to UAH 2.5 billion, a single social contribution of UAH 1.7 billion, and UAH 1.6 billion in personal income tax.
In addition, Metinvest’s Ukrainian enterprises paid UAH 670 million in income tax and UAH 328 million in environmental tax in January-June 2025. Military tax for the first half of this year increased more than threefold compared to the same period in 2024, to UAH 472 million, and land tax increased by 5% to UAH 659 million.
“In times of war, paying taxes is our direct contribution to the protection and restoration of the country. After all, the financial responsibility of business is a source of strength for the army, medicine, education, and millions of Ukrainian families. We have learned to move forward even in the most difficult times — to work despite threats, to support the economy, and to help the front. We are keeping up the pace because we know that our resilience is part of our common victory,” said Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of the group.
As previously reported, in 2024, Metinvest transferred UAH 19.8 billion in taxes and fees to budgets at all levels in Ukraine.
Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical enterprises. Its enterprises are located in Ukraine, in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as well as in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The main shareholders of the holding company are the SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the managing company of the Metinvest Group.
