[Ferro-Alloys.com] ArcelorMittal's total steel shipments in 2Q 2019 were 4.3% higher at 22.8Mt as compared with 21.8Mt for 1Q 2019, and 4.8% higher as compared with 2Q 2018.Total steel shipments for 1H 2019 were 44.6 million metric tonnes representing an increase of 3.5% as compared to 1H 2018.

Sales in 2Q 2019 were 0.5% higher at $19.3 billion as compared to $19.2 billion for 1Q 2019 primarily due to higher steel shipments (+4.3%) offset in part by lower average steel selling prices (-3.9%).Sales for 1H 2019 decreased by 1.8% to $38.5 billion as compared with $39.2 billion for 1H 2018, primarily due to lower average steel selling prices (-6.1%) offset in part by higher steel shipments (+3.5%).

Operating income in 2Q 2019 increased by 46.2% to $457 million as compared to $313 million in 1Q 2019 and $198 million in 2Q 2018. Operating income for 1H 2019 was lower at $0.6 billion as compared to $3.9 billion in 1H 2018 primarily driven by impairments as discussed above, as well as weaker operating conditions (negative price-cost effect in steel segments) reflecting both the impact of the decline in steel prices since 4Q 2018 and higher raw material costs offset in part by improved mining segment performance. 

Vale released PERFORMANCE IN 2Q19, in which it said:"We made substantial progress in 2Q19 concerning the 93 Mtpy of Iron Ore production stopped in 1Q19 with the resumption of Brucutu operations on June 22nd, 2019, recovering 30 Mtpy of production capacity, and the partial return of dry processing at the Vargem Grande complex, adding about 12Mtpy (5 Mt in 2019). Regarding the approximate 50 Mtpy currently curbed, we expect that about 20 Mtpy of dry processing production will be gradually resumed starting by the end of this year and the remaining 30 Mtpy, which includes wet processing, is estimated to return in about two to three years.”

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• [Editor:kangmingfei]