Mining and Metallurgical Group Metinvest has managed to balance the number of employees and production productivity, which allowed it to approach the pre-war level of salaries, the company’s CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov said, commenting on delo.ua inclusion in the list of five best employers in Ukraine according to the magazine “TOP-100. Ratings of the biggest”.
According to him, the rate of movement of salaries at the enterprises of the group is different, but the company finds opportunities to implement effective motivational systems, so that the income of employees is growing, and the situation in the company is stabilizing.
The top manager stated that the war has crushed Metinvest’s business. The company lost control over metallurgical enterprises in temporarily occupied Mariupol. It also had to suspend operations at its coke plant in frontline Avdeevka. The Group was forced to radically restructure its production activities, create completely new logistics and find alternative ways to export its products.
Another challenge for the company since the beginning of the war has been the mass migration of personnel and tangible loss of their qualifications. A significant part of Metinvest’s employees left for other regions or countries, changed their profession or specialization, or simply cannot work under such conditions. Besides, already more than 10% of Metinvest employees (more than 8 thousand employees) serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to the CEO, all this significantly reduces not only the potential of the Ukrainian mining and metallurgical complex in general, but also of Metinvest Group in particular. He emphasized that the outflow of human capital makes it too difficult to maintain current production volumes and restore it in the future, so the company pays great attention to the reintegration of employees returning to work from war.
“The company is deploying maximum resources to support employees. We have to make sure that our people are as safe as possible now, receive decent pay and have conditions for professional development,” Ryzhenkov said.
At the same time, it is noted that the company is interested in ensuring that military and civilians, who gave their health in the fight against the aggressor, return to full life as soon as possible and with the slightest discomfort. “Exactly such opportunities for the victims are provided by the equipment for early verticalization, which is now available in Ukraine thanks to the initiative “Saving Life”, – specified Tetyana Petruk, Director for Sustainable Development and Human Resources of Metinvest Group.
“Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical enterprises. The group’s enterprises are located mainly in Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhya and Dnepropetrovsk regions.
The main shareholders of the holding are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%), jointly managing the holding.
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
Metinvest mining and metallurgical group will invest in a logistics center in Poland in order to increase the supply of Ukrainian metal products for export, the company’s CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov said in an interview with the leading Polish business publication Business Insider.
According to him, Zaporizhstal and Kamet Steel are currently operating at 65-70% and 75% of their capacity, respectively. About 25% of products are sold on the domestic market, the rest goes mainly to the EU. At the same time, steel is sold mainly in neighboring countries, such as Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Bulgaria.
The company also sells metal products to Italy, Germany or France.
“Steel mills can hardly complain about the low level of sales, but iron ore enterprises were less fortunate. Here, in addition to domestic consumption, China was also a buyer. However, in the current situation, exports there are practically impossible, since the Black Sea ports are blocked, therefore, the border countries of the EU also remain buyers here. Iron ore enterprises now use about 35-40% of their capacity. We tried to send raw materials to China through Romanian and Polish ports. However, unfortunately, the economy of this logistics simply does not work in the current market,” the top manager said.
He noted that at the same time, the coal production of the company in Ukraine operates at 100% capacity. The mined coal is supplied to the group’s coking enterprises in Ukraine, and is also sold on the local market. The rest is sold abroad, mainly in Slovakia and Poland.
“In 2022, our steel production decreased by 69% compared to last year. This affected a number of financial indicators. For example, our profit in 2022 is 54% less than last year,” the CEO said.
He also stated that Metinvest’s strategy has not changed – the company wanted to connect Ukraine and Ukrainian iron ore with the European steel production chain. Therefore, the group continues to look for opportunities to acquire assets that would allow it to use the Ukrainian raw material base, produce products in the EU and supply them to European consumers.
Metinvest Mining and Metallurgical Group has allocated almost UAH 4 billion to support the country and its citizens during the year and a half of full-scale war, including UAH 2 billion for the needs of the army as part of the Rinat Akhmetov Steel Front military initiative.
According to the company’s press release on Thursday, since the first day of the full-scale Russian invasion, the company has been a reliable support for the country in a very difficult time, strengthening the defense capabilities of the army, taking care of its employees and civilian Ukrainians, and supporting the economy.
Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of Metinvest, noted that the Group has been investing in the development of production and the welfare of Ukraine for all 17 years of its existence.
“With the outbreak of a full-scale war, we have faced another major challenge – to help the country defeat the enemy and preserve its sovereignty and independence. That is why for the past year and a half, the company’s enterprises have been not only witnessing but also actively participating in the struggle. We are working for the needs of the frontline, delivering humanitarian aid to the victims and, despite everything, continue to produce Ukrainian steel,” the top manager said, as quoted by the press service.
It is also stated that Metinvest’s enterprises in Ukraine are under constant threat of enemy shelling. The group’s assets in Mariupol and Avdiivka have been damaged by hostilities, while Mariupol is temporarily occupied. Since the outbreak of full-scale war, Metinvest’s operations have been negatively affected by logistical constraints, power outages, rising production costs and falling prices for certain products.
Despite all this, the Group’s enterprises operate at different levels of utilization, taking into account security, logistics, energy, economic and other factors.
Since the beginning of 2023, following the stabilization of power supply, the Group has been able to gradually increase the utilization of its iron ore assets in Kryvyi Rih to at least 30% of pre-war levels and maintain its focus on the production of pellets and products with a high iron content.
The restoration of power supply also ensured more stable operations and product mix flexibility at Kametstal, which operates two blast furnaces, and the joint venture Zaporizhstal, which operates three blast furnaces. BF No. 3 at Zaporizhstal resumed operations after being shut down in late spring. The overhaul helped improve the efficiency of the furnace and the entire blast furnace process.
Pokrovskoye Coal Group’s enterprises are operating at high utilization rates. Construction of the 11th coal mining unit is underway. In July, despite the military invasion, the Group successfully completed the modernization of the flotation department at Svyato-Varvarinskaya Concentrator, which had been in progress for four years.
Metinvest’s priority remains taking care of its employees who ensure the production process. All enterprises have bomb shelters equipped for long-term stay of people. The shelters have water, food and medicine.
Starting June 1, 2023, Metinvest introduced an additional bonus for employees of production and repair facilities in Ukraine, which can reach 25% of their salary or more depending on the performance of the employees.
The most important task for business in wartime is to work together with the whole country to win by paying taxes, supporting the army, the economy and taking care of people, the press release said. In the first half of 2023, Metinvest, including its associates and joint ventures, paid more than UAH 6.3 billion in taxes and fees to the budgets of all levels in Ukraine.
“Metinvest continues to fight the theft by the Russian Federation, which illegally exported more than 234,000 tons of the company’s steel products from Mariupol. In particular, 27 enterprises of the group have filed lawsuits with the European Court of Human Rights against the Russian Federation for damage to the group’s property in Mariupol and other territories of Ukraine since February 24, 2022,” the press release states.
Since the first day of the war, Metinvest has joined the Rinat Akhmetov Steel Front military initiative to protect the lives of Ukraine’s soldiers. The company has already allocated UAH 2 billion to support the Ukrainian army by purchasing bulletproof vests, vehicles, drones, thermal imagers and other equipment. The company has also organized the production of special mobile shelters, anti-tank hedgehogs and spiked chains against wheeled vehicles.
“Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of steel and mining companies. The Group’s enterprises are located primarily in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro regions.
The main shareholders of the holding are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%), which jointly manage it.
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
Mining and metallurgical group Metinvest in January-June of this year, including associated companies and joint ventures, transferred more than UAH 6.3 billion of taxes and fees to the budgets of all levels in Ukraine.
According to the company’s press release on Monday, despite the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest remains the backbone of the country’s economy.
It is specified that, in particular, for January-June this year Ukrainian enterprises of Metinvest paid more than 1.5 billion UAH of unified social contribution, almost 1.5 billion UAH of personal income tax and more than 1 billion UAH of profit tax.
In addition, significant sources of filling the state and local budgets of Ukraine were payment for the use of subsoil – UAH 872 million, payment for land – UAH 589 million and environmental tax – UAH 302 million, the press release said.
In the second quarter of 2023, the group transferred to the Ukrainian budget more than 3.8 billion UAH, which is 51% more than in the first quarter of this year. In particular, for April-June compared to January-March 2023, Metinvest enterprises increased payment of unified social contribution by 12%, up to UAH 813 million, personal income tax – by 26%, up to UAH 819 million, income tax – by 45%, up to UAH 643 million.
In April-June-2023, the fee for subsoil use increased 4 times, to UAH 698 mln, land fee – by 4%, to UAH 301 mln, environmental tax – by 23%, to UAH 167 mln.
Metinvest CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov noted that with the start of the big war, the group gave up tax benefits to which it is entitled under the law and pays taxes in full.
“We understand that our resilience and endurance adds to the state’s ability to hold the blow in economic, defense and social areas. We will continue to be a point of support for the country, the army and Ukrainians. We will help as much as necessary – both before and after the victory”, – emphasized the top manager, who is quoted by the press service.
It is also reminded that taking into account associated companies and joint ventures, in the first quarter of 2023 Metinvest paid more than 2.5 billion UAH of taxes and fees to budgets of all levels in Ukraine, and in 2022 – 20.5 billion UAH.
“Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical companies. The group’s enterprises are mainly located in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
The main shareholders of the holding are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%), jointly managing the holding.
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
“Metinvest in January-March of this year reduced steel production by 75% compared to the same period last year – to 491 thousand tons, according to a press release from the parent company Metinvest B.V. on Friday evening.
According to it, pig iron production was also down 75% to 448,000 tons, coke production was down 59% to 318,000 tons, but merchant coke production was up 1% to 213,000 tons.
It is specified that this year the steel and iron smelting was carried out on “Kametstal”. In connection with the beginning of a large-scale military aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, on February 24, 2022, Metinvest decided to suspend the production activities of a number of its enterprises in Mariupol, Avdiivka and Zaporizhia, including Azovstal, Illich Iron and Steel, Avdiivka Coke and Zaporizka Coke. Later, the group’s Zaporizhia companies resumed production. In turn, the assets of the group’s enterprises in Mariupol and Avdyivka suffered as a result of hostilities, while Mariupol is currently under temporary occupation.
It is also reported that the Ukrainian enterprises of the group, except for those located in Mariupol and Avdeevka, continue to operate at different levels of utilization, taking into account security factors, availability of electricity supply, as well as logistical and economic factors
In Q1 2023 iron production increased by 66% q-o-q mainly due to an increase in operating hours of both blast furnaces at MK Kametstal after the plant’s emergency shutdown due to lack of power supply in late November, with gradual resumption in December, as well as stabilization of the situation with power supply since late January. As a result, steel production increased by 96% q-o-q.
Q1 2023 iron and steel production figures are 75% lower than in the same period last year due to the shutdown of the Mariupol mills from the end of February 2022, as well as the transition to operating two blast furnaces instead of three at Kametstal.
In the 1st quarter of 2023 the production of commercial semi-finished products amounted to 282 thousand tons, which is twice as much as in the previous quarter due to the increase of liquid iron production, but 46% less than the same period last year due to the absence of production at the Mariupol blast furnaces from the end of February 2022.
In January-March 2023, the output of finished products increased by 28% quarter-on-quarter to 547 thnd mt. Production of flat products was up by 67,000 tonnes to 285,000 tonnes, mainly due to an increased order book for hot-rolled plates at rolling mills in Italy and the UK; production of long products was up by 53,000 tonnes to 262,000 tonnes due to higher steel production on the back of stabilized electricity supply at Kametstal.
In Q1 2023 production of finished products decreased by 63% compared to the same period of 2022, as flat products output decreased by 828 thousand tonnes – due to the shutdown of Mariupol integrated works from late February 2022, as well as due to the change in order book in favor of hot-rolled thick plates at Ferriera Valsider in Italy. In addition, production of long products decreased by 66 thousand tonnes – mainly as a result of production stoppages at Azovstal from the end of February 2022 and lower finished products output at Kametstal against the background of unstable electricity supplies compared to the same period last year.
There was no production of rail and pipe products, as the products were produced at the Mariupol mills.
In Q1 2023 coke output increased by 12% quarter-on-quarter, the main reason being the resumption of coke production at Kametstal after an emergency shutdown due to a lack of power supply in late November 2022. At the same time, coke output in this period decreased by 59% compared to 1Q2022 due to stoppage of production at Azovstal and AVDKHZ from the end of February 2022.
As previously reported, Metinvest in 2022 decreased steel output by 69% YoY to 2.918 million tons, iron output by 72% to 2.743 million tons, coke output by 64%, to 1.653 million tons, including marketable coke by 49%, to 811 thousand tons.
“Metinvest consists of mining and metallurgical enterprises in Ukraine, Europe and the USA.
The major shareholders of Metinvest are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%) that jointly manage the company.
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest group.
Metinvest Mining and Metallurgical Group, within the framework of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative, transferred optics and equipment for 10 million UAH to the National Guard of Ukraine.
According to the company, heavy and dangerous battles continue along the frontline – in order to increase the efficiency of offensive operations and reduce losses of Ukrainian defenders, Metinvest transferred a large batch of optics and equipment worth 10 million UAH.
It is specified that the assistance within the framework of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front militarized initiative was once again received by the unit of the Offensive Guards of the National Guard of Ukraine. Now the soldiers have a number of useful equipment at their disposal: 20 night vision devices, 7 rangefinders, 30 collimator holographic sights and magnifiers for them, 10 binoculars Schteiner, 7 quadcopters DJI MAVIC 3T and FMC, as well as tablets and a laptop. And to increase the mobility of fighters to the front will go be a bus and a pickup truck.
The press service emphasizes that all the devices received are high-tech and of high quality. According to the soldiers, they will help to perform special combat tasks more effectively and with fewer losses.
“With the help of the new rangefinders, we can determine the distance to the targets very accurately at a distance of up to 2 km. And accordingly, we can plan our actions more effectively, and adjust fire to hit all units. So this is a very necessary equipment for us! Most of the enemy have no such devices, they are far behind – both in tactics and in technical equipment. So having these things in service is a great advantage for us. With equipment from the Steel Front, we will destroy the enemy even more effectively, leaving no chance. This is exactly the kind of equipment our troops need to win,” explains the company deputy chairman of one of the offensive units, call sign Leo, who is quoted by the press service.
Despite the fact that this equipment is quite scarce on the market, Metinvest is doing its best to provide the troops with everything they need.
“The night vision devices that we transfer are full-featured devices that meet NATO military standards. Supply of such highly professional military equipment requires approval of documents of permissive nature for movement across the border, control over logistics and transfer itself. We assess the needs and quality of equipment more and more thoroughly with each new request from the military. We are trying to meet specific requirements of defenders, where, due to complexity of centralized supplies, assistance is needed the most”, – comments Alexander Kul, Senior Manager of Mergers and Acquisitions Department of Project Office of Metinvest Group.
Earlier Metinvest delivered a batch of equipment worth UAH 2.3 million to the Donetsk direction. The defenders received six drones, Starlink complex, two EcoFlow batteries, three radios, five night vision devices, as well as gas masks. In total, since the beginning of the full-scale war within the framework of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front militarized initiative, the company has allocated more than UAH 1.6 billion to help the Ukrainian army.
“Metinvest” is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical enterprises. Its enterprises are located in Ukraine – in Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk regions, as well as in European countries.
The major shareholders of the holding are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%) that manage it jointly.
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest group.
