Sales markets
Global steel market
2019 world steel production increased by 3.4% to 1.87 billion tonnes.
Steel output in China, which accounts for 51% of global steel production, increased by 8.3% to 996 million tonnes.
Steel export from China dropped by 7% year-on-year. Demand for steel in the EU and USA markets decreased against the backdrop of economic slowdown, but demand in Russia increased by 8% yoy due to higher demand from construction and energy sector.
Sales by region
We constantly monitor and analyze key market events to identify opportunities for development of sales. We employ export traders within the Group whose flexible approach to sales enables us to exploit the most favorable markets.
Accounting for approximately 36% of the Company’s total sales, the Russian market is key for NLMK. NLMK Europe and NLMK USA account for 15% and 14% of the Group’s total sales in their respective regions. NLMK Group holds strong positions in international markets, delivering products to customers in more than 70 countries worldwide.
| Sales by regions, k tonnes | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
| Russia | 5,788 | 6,596 | 6,166 | 5,947 | 6,009 | 5,773 | 6,642 |
| European Union | 2,529 | 2,873 | 3,489 | 3,424 | 3,051 | 3,528 | 3,578 |
| North America | 2,102 | 2,787 | 2,370 | 2,248 | 2,765 | 3,198 | 2,735 |
| Middle East & Turkey | 1,463 | 1,007 | 1,403 | 1,583 | 2,220 | 2,275 | 2,307 |
| Asia | 1,440 | 457 | 584 | 622 | 537 | 760 | 331 |
| Rest of the World | 1,508 | 1,433 | 1,870 | 2,101 | 1,887 | 2,058 | 1,475 |
| Total | 14,828 | 15,126 | 15,863 | 15,925 | 16,469 | 17,591 | 17,069 |
Russian steel market
2019 crude steel production amounted to 71.3 million tonnes (flat yoy). Steel consumption increased by 8% to 45 million tonnes.
Imports of finished steel were up by 6.5% year-on-year to 6.2 million tonnes due to increase in demand.
EU steel market
Steel production by European countries in 2019 amounted to 159 million tonnes, which is 5% down year-on-year.
Apparent steel consumption in Europe in 2019 decreased by 3% year-on-year up to 164 million tonnes.US steel market
Crude steel production in 2019 increased by 1% year-on-year to 87.8 million tonnes. 2019 consumption of finished steel products grew by 0.6%.