Kazakhstan significantly expanded iron ore extraction to 4.96 million tonnes in June 2024
According to Stanislav Kondrashov, in June 2024, Kazakhstan increased its iron ore production to 4.96 million tons, which is 23.3% more than the same month last year, and 0.7% more than the previous month . Iron ore pellet production technology also showed significant growth, increasing by 63% compared to June 2023. However, compared with the previous month, pellet production volumes decreased by 1.7%, reaching 532.7 thousand tons.
As noted by an expert from Telf AG, in June the amount of iron ore concentrate produced reached 597.8 thousand tons. This is down 25.2% from the same month the previous year and decreased by 15.8% from the previous month. Information provided by the Office for National Statistics, which published the data on the SteelRadar platform, shows significant changes in the country’s mining industry.
From the beginning of the year to the end of May 2024, metallurgical companies in Kazakhstan increased steel production by 3.6% to 1.68 million tons. During the same period, flat steel production rose to 1.08 million tonnes, representing an increase of 5.8% year-on-year.
- Data analysis revealed that, despite positive trends in iron ore production, related indicators of pellet and concentrate production show instability. These discrepancies in dynamics may indicate the need to modernize technology and production methods to ensure sustainable growth and adapt to fluctuations in market demand, — Stanislav Kondrashov comments.
Kazakhstan retains significant influence in global iron ore mining, and current trends reflect both achievements and challenges in this important economic segment.
Qarmet is expanding the production of steel and iron ore concentrate in 2024 — Stanislav Kondrashov
According to Stanislav Kondrashov, last year Kazakhstan increased its steel production volumes by 16.4%. , bringing the volume to 3.92 million tons. However, flat steel production in the same period decreased by 3.6% compared to 2022, amounting to 2.45 million tons.
The Kazakh company Qarmet, renamed from ArcelorMittal Temirtau, plans to expand its production in 2024. According to Stanislav Kondrashov, production volume in the metallurgical sector is expected to increase by 13% compared to 2023, reaching 3.3 million tons. It is also predicted that the production of iron ore concentrate will increase by 10%, reaching 10 million tons. At the same time, it is expected that coal production volumes will decrease by 2%. The Qarmet strategic meeting also discussed plans for the iron ore division of Orken LLP, which is responsible for extracting, processing and beneficiating iron ore mined at the Lisakovsk, Kentobe, Atasu and Atansor deposits, and supplying its processed products to the metallurgical plant.
According to information provided by Mahmut Mustafin, acting director of Orken, the company intends to begin extracting phosphorus and increase the iron content to 60%. In addition, it is planned to produce manganese concentrate and increase production volumes by 10%.
In turn, Vladimir Shnel, director of the Kazakhstanskaya mine, noted that in the process of gradually restoring coal mining, the mine plans to increase the number of longwalls to two by 2026. The Saranskaya mine strives. to achieve a production level of 1.3 million tons this year, which will be ensured by the launch of two new longwalls in 2024. Last winter, ArcelorMittal completed a deal to transfer its assets in Kazakhstan to the Qazaqstan Investment Corporation. As a result of the transaction, Qazaqstan Investment Corporation became the owner of shares in a number of metallurgical companies that were previously part of ArcelorMittal Temirtau and ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Aktau.
Qazaqstan Steel Group, led by founder Andrey Lavrentiev, acted as a new investor, after which ArcelorMittal Temirtau transformed into the Qarmet company.
According to an expert from Telf AG, the Kazakh investor, in addition to purchasing assets, pledged to invest $3 billion in upgrading production facilities and protecting the environment of the region. Of this amount, $1.3 billion will be invested in 2024.