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NLMK Group

nlmk · LSE Utilities
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FY2018 Annual Report · NLMK Group
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2018

ABOUT NLMK

ANNUAL REPORT

Contents

2018 highlights 

President’s Statement 

About the Report 

Our approach to preparing reports 

Scope of reporting 

The process of defining material topics 

Methodology for preparing and revising data 

External assurance 

Contact details 

Company profile 

Company profile 

Where we make and market steel 

NLMK's integrated process environment 

What we make and market 

Strategy and business review 

Strategy 2017 results 

Strategy 2022 

Key performance indicators 

NLMK Group's business model 

NLMK Production System 

Innovations 

Market review 

Sustainability management 

Our approach to sustainability management 

Contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 
adopted by the UN General Assembly 

Generating economic value 

Participation in industry associations and external initiatives 

2018 performance review 

Operating performance 

Financial performance 

Sustainability performance 

Five-year highlights 

4

6

8

9

9

10

10

11

11

12

13

14

16

23

26

27

30

34

40

44

46

48

50

41

54

56

57

58

60

61

61

62

3

ABOUT NLMK 2018  
highlights

Setting records in operations
 ▶ Record performance: steel output 
increased to 17.5 million tonnes; sales grew 
to 17.6² million tonnes, hitting an all-time 
high for the Company. NLMK Group retained 
its leadership on the Russian market in 
terms of steel output, and consolidated its 
positions on global markets.

Stable financials and debt reduction
 ▶ Revenue grew to $12.0 billion; NLMK’s 
EBITDA increased by 35% yoy to $3.6 billion, 
while its EBITDA margin grew to 30%. Net 
debt/EBITDA decreased to 0.25x.

Strategy in action
 ▶ In 2018 EBITDA gains from the 
operational efficiency programme totalled 
$189 million to the 2017 cost base. The 
impact of capex projects executed as part 
of Strategy 2017 totalled $121 million. Total 
gains from Strategy 2017 in 2014-2018 
were $1,348 million, which is significantly in 
excess of the $1 billion target.

Sustainable  
Strategy 2017 gains

Record  
operating results 

Strategy 2017 gains continue 
to drive our performance1, $ m

Sales hit an all-time high2, m t

Growth of business  
profitability

Consistently expanding  
EBITDA margins, $ bn

1,348
311

1,037
389

648
131

517
238

279
279

17.6

24%

23%

25%

26%

30%

3.6

16.5

15.8

15.9

15.1

2.7

2.4

1.9

1.9

Growing  
dividends

Strengthening  
financial standing

High occupational  
safety standards

Consistent growth in dividend 
payments, $ bn

Low leverage 
(Net debt/EBITDA)

2.1

0.70

0.60

0.39

0.35

0.25

1.4

0.9

0.6

0.3

Reduced injury rates, 
employees and contractors 
(LTIFR3, NLMK Group)

1.6

1.15

1.12

0.85

0.77

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018E

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

EBITDA

EBITDA margin

$311 M

STRATEGY 2017 GAINS  
IN 2018. TOTAL GAINS  
IN 2014-2018 WERE  
$1,348 MILLION 

(for more details please refer to the Strategy 2017  
results section)

¹  Strategy gains with NBH

²  Without NBH

4

+1.1 М Т

NLMK GROUP ADDED 7% YOY 
TO ITS SALES REACHING 
AN ALL-TIME HIGH OF 
17.6² MILLION TONNES

+35% 

EBITDA  
GROWTH YOY

$2.1 BN

DIVIDENDS  
FOR 2018⁴

4 YEARS

DEBT CONTINUED  
TO DECLINE FOURTH  
YEAR IN A ROW

-31% YOY 

REDUCED LOST TIME INJURY 
FREQUENCY RATE ACROSS 
NLMK GROUP, INCLUDING 
CONTRACTORS

³	

	LTIFR	—	Lost	Time	Injury	Frequency Rate	

4  Projected dividend payout, based on Q4’18 dividends recommended by NLMK Group’s Board of Directors

5

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlights 
 
President’s 
Statement  GRI 102‑14

Key indicators:

SALES  
GROWTH  
+7% YOY 

EBITDA  
MARGIN  
INCREASED  
TO 30%

STRATEGY 2017  
EBITDA GAIN:  
$1.348 BILLION

LTIFR 
DECREASED  
TO 0.77

TOTAL EBITDA GAINS FROM 
STRATEGY 2017 IMPLEMENTATION 
DURING 2014-2018 AMOUNTED TO 
$1.348 BILLION, CONSIDERABLY 
EXCEEDING OUR TARGET OF $1 BILLION

team. Our team is looking forward to 
new projects and challenges, and each of 
us – to new opportunities and interesting 
work. We are proud of what we have 
achieved and fully recognize that our 
achievements were made possible thanks 
to the contribution of our entire team, 
united by the common goal of leadership 
for NLMK Group. 

I want to thank the Company's 

employees for their contribution, which 
enables NLMK to unlock its potential 
and be recognized as the industry leader. 
I would also like to express my sincere 
gratitude to NLMK’s shareholders, 
customers and business partners who 
believe in us and work with us to develop 
the Company.

Grigory  
Fedorishin

President of NLMK Group  

Dear readers,

I n 2018 NLMK Group reduced its 

injury rates while setting records in 
production and sales. Our profits and 
EBITDA margin hit a ten-year high. 
We saw our sales increase to 
17.4* million tonnes, more than at 
any other point in the Company’s 
history. Revenue grew by 20% yoy to 
$12.0 billion; EBITDA increased by 35% 
to $3.6 billion, while its EBITDA margin 
grew to 30%. NLMK Group maintained 
its market leadership in Russia and 
consolidated its position on global 
markets.

It is extremely important that 

we keep up the good speed in 
boosting our operational efficiency. 
NLMK Production System now covers 
all of our Russian sites and has been 
rolled out to our European sites. It 
extends not only to core operations, 
but to support processes as well. 

Our focus on operational efficiency 
was instrumental in keeping low cash 
cost, enabling maximum utilization 
of our facilities. NLMK Lipetsk had a 
record-breaking year, producing more 
steel in 2018 than ever before; Stoilensky 
became the second largest Russian 
producer of iron ore concentrate; and 
NLMK Long’s financial performance 
was at a ten-year high. 

All of our sites and functional areas 
have enjoyed their own successes – and 
behind these successes is the NLMK 

NLMK GROUP INCREASED 
SALES TO A RECORD  
17.4* MILLION TONNES

*  with NBH sales

6

7

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsOur approach  
to preparing reports 

Scope  
of reporting   GRI 102‑45  

Information on the Group’s financial 
and business activities is disclosed in 
accordance with its 2018 consolidated 
IFRS financial statements. 

Data relating to NLMK’s operating 
activities and sustainability information 

are presented within the scope shown 
in the table below, unless otherwise 
indicated in the text of the Report.

Compared to the previous reporting 
period, the scope of a number of topics 
and indicators has been expanded and 
supplemented by the inclusion of NLMK 
Group’s international companies.

This NLMK Group’s 2018 Annual 
Report (‘the Report’) discloses 
information on financial and 
business operations along with data 
on the Company’s achievements in 
sustainability management for the 
period from 1 January 2018 to 31 
December 2018.  GRI 102‑50  

NLMK prepares its Annual Report 

on a yearly basis  GRI	102‑52 ; the Report 
includes information on the Company’s 
sustainability activities in the relevant 
topic-specific sections. The Company’s 
latest annual report was published in 
June 2018. Electronic versions of previous 
reports can be found on the Company’s 
official website: www.nlmk.com.  GRI	102‑51  

Previously, the Group’s annual 
public reports were prepared taking 
the recommendations of the Standards 
under advisement. In particular, in 2017, 
NLMK used GRI Standards to disclose 
information on environmental protection. 
In 2018, the entire Report of NLMK 
Group was prepared in accordance with 
the GRI Standards. The GRI Standards: 
Core option was selected for information 
disclosure*.   GRI 102‑54  The GRI Content 
Index, listing the disclosures included, can 
be found in the Appendix.  GRI 102‑55  

The Report also covers compliance 

with the principles of the UN Global 
Compact and the OECD Principles of 
Corporate Governance, in accordance 
with which the Group strives to conduct 
its activities.

The interests of the investment 
community regarding sustainability 
management practices were taken 
into account during the preparation of 
this Report. In particular, the Group 
relied on the methodology of such 
rating agencies as RobecoSAM, MSCI, 
Sustainalytics, and FTSE Russell when 
disclosing information.

The Report also reflects the Group’s 

contribution to the achievement of 
the Sustainable Development Goals 
adopted by the United Nations in 2015 
in the document Transforming Our 
World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable 
Development.

* 

 The GRI Standards: Core option requires obligatory 
disclosure of a selective set of indicators from GRI 
Standard 102, as well as at least one indicator from 
the selected	topic‑specific	GRI	Standards.

About  
the Report 

SCOPE OF REPORTING ABOUT NLMK OPERATIONS  
AND SUSTAINABILITY ACTIVITIES

RUSSIA

NLMK Russia Flat Products 

NLMK Lipetsk

VIZ‑Steel	

Altai‑Koks	

NLMK Trading SA 

Novexco (Cyprus) Ltd. 

NLMK Russia Long Products

NLMK‑Ural	

NLMK‑Kaluga	

NLMK‑Metalware	

Vtorchermet NLMK 

Production and Processing of Raw Materials, Russia

Stoilensky 

Stagdok

Dolomit

USA

NLMK USA

Steel and flat products

GO electrical steel

Coke

Trader (located in Switzerland)

Trader (located in Cyprus)

Steel and long products 

Steel and long products 

Metalware

Scrap processing

Extraction and processing of iron ore

Extraction and processing of flux limestones

Dolomite 

NLMK Pennsylvania LLC & Sharon Coating LLC

Steel and flat products

NLMK Indiana LLC

Steel and flat products

EU

NLMK DanSteel and plate distribution network

NLMK DanSteel A/S

NBH Segment 

NLMK Clabecq S.A.

NLMK Verona SpA

NLMK La Louvière S.A.

NLMK Strasbourg S.A.

SERVICE AND SUPPORTING BUSINESSES 

NLMK Trading House

Plate

Plate

Plate

Strip

Strip

VIZ

Novolipetsk Steel Service Centre (Metallobaza)

VIZ‑Broker

Ussuriysk	Steel	Service	Centre	(Metallobaza)

Gazobeton‑48

NLMK‑Engineering

UralNIIAS	Institute

SMT NLMK

Novolipetsk Printing House

NLMK India Service Center Pvt Ltd

NLMK Overseas Holdings

NLMK Accounting Centre

Zhernovsky‑1	mining	and	beneficiation	plant

NLMK IT

Usinky‑3	mining	and	beneficiation	plant

NLMK Communications

Metallurg Hotel Complex

8

9

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlights  GRI 102‑46   

The process of defining 
material topics 
Significant economic, environmental, 
and social topics of the greatest 
importance to the Company and its 
stakeholders were identified as part 
of the process of defining the Report’s 
content. This approach was developed 
on the basis of the requirements set out 
in the GRI Standards.

For the purpose of preparing the 2018 
Report, a working group comprising the 
heads of NLMK’s functional units was 
formed.

A total of 16 material topics were 
identified and approved on the basis 
of the analysis, including disclosures 
from each of the following categories: 
economic, environmental, and social. 
These disclosures were also prioritized 
on the basis of feedback from a survey 
carried out in October 2018 of internal 
stakeholders who are members of the 
Report preparation working group.
The GRI information disclosure 
requirements were met to the same 
extent for all topics, regardless of 

APPROACH TO DEFINING MATERIAL TOPICS

their determined level of materiality. 
At the same time, topics with a high 
level of materiality were accorded 
special attention: additional detailed 
information about them is provided in 
the Report.

  GRI 102‑48,	102‑49  

Methodology  
for preparing and  
revising data 
The calculation, collection, and 
consolidation of the operational, social, 
and environmental indicators presented 
in the Report were carried out in 
accordance with the reporting principles 
and requirements of the GRI Standards, 
based on the Group’s existing processes 
for collecting and preparing business 
information.

Operating performance indicators 
and sustainability data are presented in 
the International System of Units (SI).
The sources of sustainability 
information on staff management, 
occupational health and safety, and 
environmental protection are the state 
mandatory statistical reporting forms, 
which are submitted to the relevant 
government agencies on an annual basis.

To enable data to be compared, 
the most significant indicators of the 
Group’s activities will be presented not 
only for the reporting period, but also 
for the previous four years. At the same 
time, taking into account that the scope 
of 2018 information disclosure covers 
international companies as well, certain 
data for previous periods were also 
adjusted. 

Financial information is presented 

Another change in the Company's 

in US dollars or Russian rubles in 
accordance with the financial reporting 
system adopted by the Group. In cases 
where financial data were recalculated 
in dollars, the weighted average rate for 
2018 was used: USD 1 = RUB 62.7078.

approach to information disclosure 
was the disclosure of quantitative 
information on energy consumption 
and energy efficiency in joules. These 
units of measurement are more universal 
and allow comparing the results of 

1

ANALYSIS  
OF EXTERNAL SOURCES

2

ANALYSIS  
OF STAKEHOLDER VIEWS

3

CREATION OF A LIST  
OF MATERIAL TOPICS

Analysis of public information  
about the Company and the mining  
and steel industry

Interviews conducted with functional  
experts of the Group

Approval of the amended list  
of material topics by members  
of the working group

Benchmark of material topics that  
are disclosed by international and Russian 
companies in the mining and steel industry

Analysis of the results of a survey  
completed by internal stakeholders  
(members of the working group) 

Confirmation of the list  
of material topics  
by the Group’s President

Analysis of the requirements of ESG analysts  
who determine ratings for sustainability 
practices: RobecoSAM, MSCI, Sustainalytics, 
and FTSE Russell

PRELIMINARY LIST  
OF MATERIAL TOPICS 

AMENDED LIST  
OF MATERIAL TOPICS

APPROVED LIST  
OF MATERIAL TOPICS

MATERIAL TOPICS   GRI 102‑47  

Topic

Economic

Level of 
materiality

Internal 
stakeholders

External 
stakeholders

201 Economic Performance

High

203 Indirect Economic Impacts

Medium

205 Anti-Corruption

Environmental

302 Energy

303 Water and Effluents

304 Biodiversity

305 Emissions

306 Effluents and Waste

307 Environmental Compliance

High

High

High

Low

High

High

High

308 Supplier Environmental Assessment

Medium

Social

401 Employment

403 Occupational Health and Safety

404 Training and Education

High

High

High

405 Diversity and Equal Opportunity

Medium

406 Non-Discrimination

407 Freedom of Association and Collective 
Bargaining

408 Child Labour

409 Forced or Compulsory Labour

413 Local Communities

Low

Medium

Low

Low

High

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

the Company's activities in this area 
with other companies, including 
international ones. 

In 2018, NLMK for the first time 
disclosed information on greenhouse gas 
emissions, including direct and indirect 
emissions, and specific emissions per 
tonne of steel produced. In the next 
reporting periods, the Company plans to 
continue the practice of disclosing this 
information. 

External assurance

An external audit of the Company’s 
financial statements was carried out 
by PwC. The Auditor’s Opinion is 
presented in the Appendix. 

The sustainability information 

presented in this Report was not 
subject to external assurance in 2018. 
However, the Group plans to certify 
this information in future reporting 
periods, since it is aware that NLMK 
Group stakeholders value independent 
confirmation of non-financial 
information.   GRI 102‑56  

Contact details

We will be happy to answer additional 
questions regarding this Report, as 
well as receive feedback from our 
stakeholders for the development and 
improvement of the content of future 
public reports of the Company.

 GRI 102‑53 	

 $ Dmitry Kolomytsyn, CFA 

Director, Capital Markets and IR

 $ ir@nlmk.com
 $ NLMK’s Representative Office 

in Moscow, 119017 40-3, Bolshaya 
Ordynka str., Moscow   GRI 102‑3  

10

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NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlights 
 
 
Company profile   GRI 102‑7  

NLMK’s ordinary shares with a 16% 

free-float are traded on the Moscow 
Exchange (ticker “NLMK”) and its 
global depositary shares are traded 
on the London Stock Exchange (ticker 
“NLMK:LI”). The share capital of the 
Company is divided into 5,993,227,240 
shares with a par value of RUB 1.

Our corporate culture, which targets 

continuous development and brings 
together more than 53,000 professionals 
across multiple regions, serves as a solid 
foundation for further growth. 

N LMK Group is the largest 

integrated steelmaker in Russia 
and one of the most efficient in 
the world.  GRI 102‑1  
NLMK Group’s steel products 
are used in various industries, from 
construction and machine building to 
the manufacturing of power-generation 
equipment and offshore wind turbines.

NLMK operates production facilities 

in Russia, Europe and the United 
States. The Company’s steel production 
capacity exceeds 17 million tonnes per 
year.  GRI 102‑4  

NLMK has the most competitive cash 

cost among global manufacturers and 
one of the highest profitability levels 
in the industry. In 2018, the Company 
generated $12.046 billion in revenue 
and $3.589 billion in EBITDA. As of 
31 December 2018, Net debt/EBITDA 
stood at 0.25х. 

KEY BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

Key number/idea

Key

Production capacities

17.5 million tonnes per year 

23%	of	steel	produced	in	Russia

No.1 steelmaker in Russia  
and among TOP 20 leading steelmakers globally 

Efficient vertical integration

 ▶ 100%	self‑sufficiency	in	iron	ore	concentrate
 ▶ 97%	self‑sufficiency	in	iron	ore	pellets
 ▶ >100%	self‑sufficiency	in	coke
 ▶ 60%	self‑sufficiency	in	scrap
 ▶ 59%	self‑sufficiency	in	energy

99%	utilization	rate	of	NLMK	Group's	
steelmaking capacity

Capacity	utilization	of	the	key	site	running	at	100%	 
vs.	a	global	average	of	about	78%

$266 cash cost per tonne of slabs

Among	TOP	3	cost‑efficient	steelmakers	globally

30%	EBITDA	margin

Stable growth in profitability over the last few years,  
driven by consistent execution of Strategy 2017

Net	debt/EBITDA	stands	at	0.25х

A stable financial position supported by a balanced financial 
policy and growth of positive free cash flow

High sustainability standards

NLMK sustainability KPIs are in line with or approaching  
the level of best global practices for the steel industry,  
as a result of the Company’s comprehensive initiatives:
 ▶ Group LTIFR (contractors and employees) stands at 0.77
 ▶ Specific air emissions total 18.0 kg/t

Company 
profile

12

13

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsWhere we
make and
market steel   GRI 102‑4,	102‑6

HOME
MARKET
2.5 M Т

EXPORT
MARKET
0.2 M Т

HOME
MARKET
5.8 M Т

EXPORT
MARKET
6.6 M Т

HOME
MARKET
2.3 M Т

NLMK 
DANSTEEL

3 M T
OF SLABS

NLMK  INDIANA

SHARON  COATING

NLMK  PENNSYLVANIA

NLMK  LA  LOUVIÈRE 
NLMK CLABECQ

NLMK 
STRASBOURG

NLMK 
VERONA

MOSCOW

NLMK  KALUGA

NLMK  URAL

VIZ  STEEL

NLMK  VTORCHERMET

NLMK  
LIPETSK

STOILENSKY

36,000 T
OF GO STEEL

ALTAI-KOKS

1.3 M T
OF SLABS

Upstream	assets

BF & BOF Operations

Rolling assets

EAF

Slab supplies from Lipetsk  
to	NLMK	USA	and	NLMK	Europe

Intragroup raw material flows in Russia

Sales of steel to third parties  
in home and export markets

NLMK  INDIA

SALES IN 2018*, M T

SALES BY MARKET*, M T

SHARE OF FINISHED STEEL
SALES TO HOME MARKETS*, %

NLMK PRODUCTION
CAPACITIES*, M T

17.4

5.8  Russia
3.2	 EU

17.4

61% 

 Home 
market
39%   Export 
market

33%  Russia
15%	 EU
13%	 USA

NLMK 
Russia

NLMK 
Europe

NLMK 
USA

66%

92%

100%

Steel

13.1

Flat 
products

6.0

Long 
products

2.7

0.8   Other regions
0.8  Asia & Oceania 
0.4  CIS
1.0 
2.2 

 LATAM
 Middle East 
(incl. Turkey)
 North America

*  with NBH

3.2 

14

NLMK Russia Flat
NLMK Russia Long
NLMK Europe
NLMK	USA

3.4

0.2

0.8

17.5

3.2

2.9

12.1

15

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsNLMK's 
integrated process 
environment   GRI 102‑7  

O ver the past decade, NLMK 

has evolved from a local steel 
producer into a global steel 
company with control over every 

production stage, from raw materials 
extraction to the sale of high value added 
(HVA) products to end consumers. 
NLMK Group is an integrated 

process environment that stretches from 
the Urals in Russia to the Great Lakes 
in the USA. All our facilities across the 
globe share common values and work for 
a common goal.

NLMK RUSSIA

Upstream

Production sites:
Stoilensky
Dolomit
Stagdok

Functions:  
Covers the Group's  
demand for raw  
materials  

Products:  
Iron ore concentrate,  
pellets, sinter ore,  
limestone, dolomite

Headcount:  

7,000

PeoPle

Production caPacities*:
Iron ore concentrate: 
Sinter ore: 

17.4 M T
1.6 M T

consumers: 
Internal: NLMK Lipetsk
External: Steelmakers,  
road construction, agriculture

sales to tHe GrouP's comPanies:
Iron ore concentrate: 
10.1 M T 
Pellets: 
6.7 M T 
Sinter ore: 
1.5 M T 
Limestone: 
2.9 M T 
(76% to the Lipetsk site)
1.8 M T 
(68% to the Lipetsk site)

(+5% yoy)
(+13% yoy)
(+2% yoy)
(-1% yoy)  

(+6% yoy)  

Dolomite: 

Production:
Iron ore:  
Fluxes:  

18.4 M T 
6.7 M T 

(+7% yoy)
(+7% yoy)

Financial PerFormance: 
Revenue: 
EBITDA: 
Investments: 

$1,211 M  (+28% yoy)
(+38% yoy)
$888 M 
(+18% yoy)
$137 M 

Event of the year 2018: Stoilensky increased its total output of iron ore concentrate  
to 17.4 million tonnes (+ 8% yoy), thanks to the introduction of high-pressure grinding rollers (HPGRs) 
at four sections of the beneficiation plant at the end of 2017.

*  Hereinafter, current capacities are based on current shifts and product mix
**	 6%	moisture

NLMK Russia Flat

Production sites:
NLMK Lipetsk (the Lipetsk site)
VIZ-Steel
Altai Koks

Functions:  
Produces steel, including semis 
for international companies, flat 
products and coke 

Products: 
Coke, pig iron, slabs, hot-rolled steel, 
cold-rolled steel, galvanized steel, 
pre-painted steel, grain-oriented 
and non-grain-oriented steel

Headcount: 

30,600

PeoPle

Production caPacities:
Steel: 
Flat products: 

13.1 M T
6.0 M T

steelmakinG  
caPacity  
utilization:  

100%

consumers: 
Internal: international rolling divisions
External: construction, pipe production, automotive 
industry, machine building, white goods, yellow 
machinery, power industry and other sectors

sales to external customers:
Commodity pig iron: 
Slabs: 
Hot-rolled steel: 
Cold-rolled steel: 
Galvanized steel: 
Pre-painted steel: 
NGOES: 
GOES steel: 

0.9 M T 
2.8 M T 
2.3 M T 
1.4 M T 
0.8 M T 
0.4 M T 
0.3 M T 
0.3 M T 

(+109% yoy)
(+11% yoy)
(-14% yoy)
(+1% yoy)
(+13% yoy)
(+5% yoy)
(-6% yoy)
(+9% yoy)

intraGrouP sales:
Supplies to NLMK USA: 
Supplies to NLMK Europe: 

1.3 M T 
3.0 M T 

(-20% yoy)
(+15% yoy)

sales GeoGraPHy:
Russia (44% of sales), Turkey and the Middle East,  
North America and LatAm, Asia and Oceania,  
European Union, the CIS

Financial PerFormance: 
Total revenue: 
EBITDA: 
Investments: 

$8,743 M  (+14% yoy)
$2,339 M (+36% yoy)
(+24% yoy)
$522 M 

Production:
Coke**: 
Pig iron: 
Steel: 
Commodity semis: 
Rolled products: 

6.4 M T 
13.2 M T 
13.3 M T 
7.1 M T 
5.7 M T 

(-7% yoy)
(+3% yoy)
(+1% yoy)
(+5% yoy)
(-2% yoy)

2018 fact: The Division's sales grew by 4% yoy 
to 13.5 million tonnes. The share of finished 
steel sold to third parties accounted for 60% 
of total sales.

16

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NLMK Russia Long

Production sites:
NLMK Vtorchermet  
scrap collecting facilities
NLMK Ural
NLMK Kaluga
NLMK Metalware

Headcount: 

8,700 PeoPle

Production caPacities:
Steel: 
Long products: 

3.4 M T
2.7 M T

Functions: 
Processes scrap  
for the Group's steelmaking 
capacities in Russia
Long products and 
metalware production

steelmakinG  
caPacity  
utilization:  

98%

consumers:  
Construction, machine building

Products:  
Scrap, billets, rebar, wire rod, 
sections, metalware

sales GeoGraPHy:
Russia (55% of sales), the European Union,  
Turkey, the Middle East, North Africa.

Production:
Scrap processing: 
Steel: 
Long products: 
Metalware: 

2.4 M T 
3.3 M T 
2.2 M T 
0.3 M T 

(+4.8% yoy)
(+9% yoy)
(+13% yoy)
(-6% yoy)

sales to external customers:
Billets: 
Long products: 
Metalware: 

0.8 M T 
2.2 M T 
0.3 M T 

(+12% yoy)
(+8% yoy)
(-7% yoy)

Financial PerFormance: 
Total revenue: 
EBITDA: 
Investments: 

$2,152 M  (+20% yoy)
(+45% yoy)
$221 M 
(+64% yoy)
$36 M 

2018 fact: Due to the expansion of sales 
channels and the development of customer 
service, the segment's sales volume increased 
by 8% yoy reaching 3.2 million tonnes 

NLMK USA

Production sites:
NLMK Pennsylvania
NLMK Indiana 
Sharon Coating

Functions: 
Produces flat steel  
from the semis coming  
from the Lipetsk site as well  
as from own-produced  
semis and from  
3-rd parties semis

Products:  
Hot-rolled steel,  
cold-rolled steel,  
galvanized steel 

Headcount: 

1,200 PeoPle

Production caPacities:
Steel: 
Flat products: 

0.8 M T
2.9 M T

steelmakinG   
caPacity  
utilization:  

85%

consumers: 
construction, pipe production, 
automotive industry, machine building,  
white goods and yellow machinery production

Production:
Steel: 
Flat products: 

0.7 M T 
2.2 M T 

(+6% yoy)
(+3% yoy)

sales GeoGraPHy:
100% of steel sold in the USA

sales:
Hot-rolled steel: 
Cold-rolled steel: 
Galvanized steel: 

1.3 M T 
0.5 M T 
0.5 M T 

(+3% yoy)
(-3% yoy)
(+6% yoy)

Financial PerFormance: 
Total revenue: 
EBITDA: 
Investments: 

$2,134 M  (+28% yoy)
(+28% yoy)
$253 M 
(-29% yoy)
$20 M 

2018 fact:  The Division's sales of hot-rolled 
steel  grew by 3% yoy. A new surface control 
system was installed at NLMK Indiana's hot rolling 
mill; the hot rolling mill at NLMK Pennsylvania will 
be equipped with a similar system.

18

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NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlights 
 
 
 
NLMK Europe Plate

Production sites:
NLMK Dansteel
NLMK Clabecq*
NLMK Verona*

Functions: 
Produces plates  
from the semis coming  
from the Lipetsk site and  
from own-produced semis 

Products:  
Niche steel semis,  
plates including Quard and  
Quend grades

sales GeoGraPHy:
92% of steel sold  
in the European Union

Headcount: 

1,300 PeoPle 

Production caPacities:
Steel: 
Plate: 

0.2 M T
1.5 M T

rollinG   
caPacity  
utilization:  

82%

consumers: 
Producers of heavy vehicles and loading  
equipment, offshore wind turbines, drilling rigs, 
shipbuilding sector, producers of pipes,  
boilers and reservoirs for hostile environment

Production:
Steel: 
Flat products: 

sales:
Plate and ingots: 

0.2 M T 
1.2 M T 

(-8% yoy)
(+6% yoy)

1.3 M T 

(+4% yoy)

2018 fact: Mr. Peter Georg Selbach was appointed CEO of NLMK Belgium Holdings plate business. 
Before joining NLMK, Peter Georg Selbach served in executive management positions in European steel 
companies, including Hydro Aluminium, Bodycote International plc, Telemond Holding, Alcoa Europe 
and ThyssenKrupp Steel. NLMK DanSteel launched an accelerated cooling unit. It will enable production 
of plates weighing up to 60 tonnes. 

NLMK EUROPE

NLMK Europe Strip

Production sites:
NLMK La Louvière*
NLMK Strasbourg*

Functions:  
Produces flat steel  
from slabs coming from  
the Lipetsk site

Products:  
Hot-rolled steel,  
cold-rolled steel,  
galvanized steel,  
pre-painted steel

sales GeoGraPHy:
92% of steel sold  
in the European Union

*  Part of NLMK Belgium Holdings (NBH)

20

Headcount: 

900 PeoPle

Production caPacities:
Flat products: 

1.7 M T

sales:
Hot-rolled steel: 
Cold-rolled steel: 
Galvanized steel: 
Pre-painted steel: 

(+15% yoy)
1.1 M T 
0.04 M T  (-33% yoy)
(-9% yoy)
0.2 M T 
(+16% yoy)
0.1 M T 

rollinG  
caPacity  
utilization: 

87%

consumers: 
construction, pipe production, automotive industry, machine 
building, white goods and yellow machinery production

Production:
Flat products: 

1.5 M T 

(+8% yoy)

2018 fact: NLMK Group and SOGEPA equalized 
their holdings in NLMK Belgium Holdings SA. 
NLMK Group has decreased its holdings in NBH 
through the sale of its 2% stake to THN, an NBH-
affiliated company. Via this transaction, the 
respective holdings of NLMK Group and SOGEPA 
(Société Wallonne de Gestion et de Participations 
S.A.), the second shareholder of NBH, have been 
equalized to 49% each.

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NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlights 
 
 
 
 
What we make 
and market   GRI 102‑2   N LMK is a leading supplier of  

high-quality steel products in 
key sales markets. NLMK has 
a balanced product mix that 

includes semi-finished, high value added 
and niche products. Flat steel accounts 
for around 82% of total output, 18% 
is accounted for by long steel used in 
construction. 

NLMK 2018 STEEL  
PRODUCT SALES:
17.4*  MILLION 
TONNES

NLMK SALES IN 2018

Sales 2018,  
m t

Share in total 
sales

Slabs

2,9 

Pig iron

0,9 

Billet

0,8 

Hot‑rolled	 
steel

4,7 

Long  
products

2,2 

Cold‑rolled	 
steel

2,0 

Galvanized  
steel

1,5 

Hot‑rolled	 
steel plate

1,2 

Pre‑painted	 
steel

0,5 

Grain‑oriented	
electrical steel

0,3 

Non‑grain‑oriented	
electrical steel

0,3 

Metalware

0,3 

TOTAL

17,4 

16%

5%

4%

27%

12%

11%

9%

7%

3%

2%

2%

1%

100%

Semi‑finished	products
Standard products
High value added products

*  with NBH Sales

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NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsOur products

Steel semis

Plate

Hot-rolled steel

Cold-rolled steel

Coated steel

Electrical steel

Long products

Metalware

SHARE IN TOTAL SALES

26%  7% 

Flat steel products with higher 
thickness than that of hot-rolled 
steel. A range of standard products 
and niche abrasion-resistant and 
high-strength plates.
Produced at NLMK Group’s 
European sites from slabs 
supplied by NLMK Lipetsk 

DESCRIPTION

Semi-finished steel products 
for further processing: slabs are 
processed into flat steel products; 
billets are processed into long 
steel products.
A wide range of semis, both 
standard and niche products with 
specific chemical composition, 
physical properties  
and dimensions

CONSUMERS

Steelmaking,  
pipe industry

27%  11% 

Flat steel products that have been 
hot-rolled. A wide range of hot-
rolled steel in sheets and coils 
with a variety of performance 
characteristics

Flat steel products that have 
been cold-rolled A wide range of 
cold-rolled steel sheets and coils 
with a variety of performance 
characteristics, including niche 
high-ductility products

12%  4% 

12% 1%

Galvanized and pre-painted steel 
from hot-rolled and cold-rolled 
flats. Coatings are applied on a 
production line to protect the steel 
from corrosive environments.
Available in coils, strip and sheets

Dynamo (non-grain-oriented) 
and transformer (grain-oriented) 
electrical steel. Includes a range of 
standard products with conventional 
properties, and unique high-
permeability steel (HGO). 
Available in coils, strip and sheets

Rebar in rods and coils, wire 
rod, sections

A wide range of low-carbon 
metalware. This includes wire and 
secondary products, with various 
coatings and surface finishes, nails, 
fasteners

Lifting and transport equipment, 
offshore wind turbines, drilling 
platforms, shipbuilding, pipelines, 
boilers, tanks for aggressive 
environment (pressure, 
temperature, load, etc.)

Pipe industry, steel structures, 
shipbuilding, machine building, 
high-pressure vessels, yellow 
machinery, commercial, residential 
and infrastructure construction

Automotive manufacturing, 
machine building, pipe industry, 
yellow machinery and white goods, 
commercial, residential and 
infrastructure construction

Automotive manufacturing, yellow 
and white goods, construction, 
facing materials.

Electrical machines, transformers, 
power engineering, instrument 
making.

Construction

Construction, machine building

SITES

NLMK Lipetsk
NLMK Kaluga

MARKET SHARE*

23% 

of the global market  
(slabs) 

NLMK Dansteel 
NLMK Clabecq  
NLMK Verona

10%  

of the European  
market

NLMK Lipetsk 
NLMK La Louvière 
NLMK Indiana 
NLMK Pennsylvania

10%

of the Russian  
market

NLMK Lipetsk 
NLMK La Louviere 
NLMK Pennsylvania

31%

of the Russian  
market

*  NLMK shares in apparent consumption.

24

NLMK Lipetsk 
NLMK Strasbourg 
Sharon Coating

23% 

Russian market,  
galvanized steel 

 22% 

Russian market,  
galvanized steel

NLMK Lipetsk
VIZ-Steel

NLMK Ural
NLMK Kaluga

NLMK Metalware

18%

of the Russian  
market

21%

Russian market,  
metalware 

80% 

Russian market,  
NGO steel

 ~100% 

Russian market,  
GO steel

9% 

Global market,  
GO steel

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NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlights 
 
 
 
 
Strategy  
and business 
review

Strategy 2017 
results

The report of the Board  
of Directors on priority 
areas development

In 2018, NLMK Group successfully 
finalized its Strategy 2017, gaining 
additional effects from continuing 
operating efficiency efforts and 
investment programmes implemented 
as part of Strategy 2017.

In the reporting period, EBITDA 
gains from the operational efficiency 
programme totalled $189 million to 
the 2017 cost base. The impact of 
capex projects executed as part of 
Strategy 2017 brought an additional 
$121 million. Total gains from 
Strategy 2017 in 2014-2018 were 
$1,348 million, which is significantly 
in excess of the $1 billion target.

STRATEGY 2017 
TARGETS:

1

2

3

4

5

Net gains of $1.0 billion pa  
vs. 2013 EBITDA

Structural reduction  
of annual capex

Conservative leverage: target  
Net debt/EBITDA ratio at 1.0x 

Stable positive free  
cash flow 

Dividend payments in accordance 
with the revised dividend policy

STRATEGY 2017 EBITDA GAINS, $ M

121

19

1,019

189

1,348

2014‑2017	gains	 
(2017 prices)

Market impact 
2014‑2018

Capex projects  
2018

Operational  
efficiency 2018

Total	2014‑2018	 
gains

STRUCTURAL GROWTH IN EBITDA

30%

3.6
1.3

1.0

14%

1.5

2013

2017 target

2018

EBITDA, $ m
Strategy 2017 effect
EBITDA	margin,	%

26

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NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsKEY ELEMENTS OF STRATEGY 2017

Leadership  
in operational efficiency

Increased productivity delivered 
by investment programmes and 
development of NLMK Production 
System. 

Target net EBITDA gain: 
$0.33 BIILLION

Аctual gains totalled:
$0.70 BILLION

Production costs reduced and 
productivity increased. This secured 
NLMK’s global cost leadership in the 
steel sector.

NLMK increased its steel output by 
0.9 million tonnes (+7%), hot-rolled steel 
output grew by 0.4 million tonnes (+6%) 
per year vs. the 2013 levels through better 
practices.

World-class  
resource base

Increased self-sufficiency in key raw 
materials and lower consumption of 
expensive resources. 

Target net EBITDA gain: 
$0.48 BILLION

Аctual gains totalled:
$0.55 BILLION

NLMK GROUP'S PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH, 2013−2018, M T

+24%
3.4

14.0

1.4

+12%

11.8

0.9

+7%

12.4

0.4

+6%
5.7

Iron ore  
concentrate

Pig iron

BOF steel

Hot‑rolled	steel 
(NLMK Russia)

2013	base

Growth

OUTPUT, M T

Concentrate

Pellets

17.4

17.2

6.7

6.0

—
2013

Strategy 2017 
target

2018

Higher self-sufficiency in iron ore despite 
steel output increase.

14.0

2013

Strategy 2017 
target

2018

Leading positions  
in strategic markets

An increase in the share of HVA products 
in the sales mix and in NLMK Group’s 
sales in its ‘home’ markets, and greater 
presence in lucrative segments. 

Target net EBITDA gain: 
$0.19 BILLION

Аctual gains totalled:
$0.15 BILLION

Lower actual gains than targeted are due 
to a significant weakening of the Russian 
steel market in 2014–2016. Nevertheless, 
sales and output targets have been 
significantly exceeded.

STEEL OUTPUT AND SALES, M T

Sales

16.3

17.4

Output

16.3

17.5

14.9

15.4

2013

Strategy 2017 
target

2018

2013

Strategy 2017 
target

2018

Leadership  
in sustainability safety

Ongoing initiatives to boost 
environmental performance through 
fine-tuning production processes 
and compliance with the highest 
occupational health and safety 
standards, industry leadership in labour 
productivity and occupational training 
for personnel.

LTIFR in Russian companies 
declined by 54% and reached 0.39. 
Labour productivity grew by 
31% compared to 2013, thanks to 
optimization and automation of 
processes, as well as increased steel 
output.

SPECIFIC SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS

LTIFR, Russian companies

Labour productivity, t of steel/pers

0.86

325

328

0.60

250

0.39

2013

Strategy 2017 
target

2018

2013

Strategy 2017 
target

2018

28

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NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsStrategy 2022

S trategy 2022 is based on 

enhancing NLMK Group’s 
competitive advantages through 
boosting operational efficiency 

across the entire production chain, 
growing cost-efficient steel production, 
enhancing vertical integration into key 
raw materials, increasing sales of high 
value added products, and pursuing 
environmental, safety and human capital 
development programmes. Strategy 
2022 targets net gains of $1.25 billion 
to EBITDA.

STRATEGY 2022 
GOALS

1

2

3

4

5

Additional EBITDA gain  
from all projects: $1.25 billion

Conservative leverage:  
Net debt/EBITDA  
ratio up to 1.0-1.5x

Annual capex: $0.9 billion  
per year on average 

Stable positive  
free cash flow

Dividend distribution: 100% of 
free cash flow with normalized 
capital expenditure at $0.7 billion 
per year for dividend calculation

6

Focus on the Company's 
shareholders value growth

GRIGORY FEDORISHIN,  
PRESIDENT OF NLMK GROUP:

 ▶ “We continue to set ourselves ambitious objectives. Our 
new Strategy targets a structural EBITDA gain of $1.25 billion 
pa, or 35% of the high financial bar set in 2018. 

“Strategy 2022 is marked by high resilience to external 
market factors, being based on enhancing the Company’s 
competitive advantages: low cash cost, efficient vertical 
integration, product mix diversification by product and by 
market, and a high level of production and sales localization. 

“NLMK’s new Strategy is balanced across its gain 
drivers: target operational efficiency gains are comparable 
to investment project gains. The new Strategy is also well-
balanced in terms of capital allocation: NLMK invests in growth 
projects while maintaining its financial stability and adhering to 
a highly competitive dividend policy. 

“As part of Strategy 2022, we will continue to work on 

maximizing stakeholder value, and on ensuring that we balance 
the interests of all NLMK Group stakeholders.”

PROJECTED STRATEGY 2022 EBITDA GAINS

By goal

$1.25 BN
0.45

By tool

$1.25 BN
0.57

0.30

0.50

Leading  
positions  
in strategic  
markets

Leadership  
in	low‑cost	 
steel production

0.68

Leadership 
in efficiency

Operational  
Efficiency

Investment

KEY ELEMENTS 
OF STRATEGY 
2022

1

2

3

4

Leadership  
in operational efficiency

Growth in low-cost  
steel production

World-class sales  
portfolio

Leadership in sustainability  
and safety

1.  Leadership  
in operational efficiency

Goal: Focus on operational efficiency 
and approaching best production 
practices; global leadership in cash cost 
of steel production

Target structural EBITDA gain: 
$0.5 BILLION 

Capex over the strategic period: 
$0.05 BILLION

Operational efficiency growth is 
a continuous process, which covers 
processes across all conversion 
stages and production levels. Further 
development of NLMK Production 
System drives the achievement of 
operational efficiency targets. This way 
the Company targets slab cash cost 
reduction of $18/t of steel by 2023 and 
labour productivity growth of 25%. 

CASH COST REDUCTION: BY $18/T BY 2023

$1 

 Consumption 
rates, energy

$5   Consumption  

rates, materials,  
other

$3   Ferroalloys  

and refractories

-$18/T

$2   Increase 

 in captive iron  
ore output

$7   Reduced coal 
consumption 
and charge	cost

EQUIPMENT PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH IN 2018−2023, M T

+0.2
6.3*

+0.5
17.2*

+0.6
13.2

+0.1
6.7

+0.2
4.6

+0.1
2.6

+0.1
2.2

concentrate

pellets

pig iron

HRC Russia

HRC,  
EU	Plate

HRC	USA

HVA  
Russia & Europe

2018

Target effect

*  Current normalized capacities

30

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NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlights 
 
2.  Growth in low-cost  
steel production

Goal: Growth of steel output at 
NLMK Lipetsk; 100% self-sufficiency 
in iron ore maintained; growth of 
NLMK Lipetsk energy self-sufficiency; 
decrease in coal consumption including 
deficit grades

Target structural EBITDA gain: 
$0.3 BILLION

Capex over the strategic period: 
$1.0 BILLION

As part of Strategy 2022, NLMK Group 
is implementing a project to increase 
NLMK Lipetsk's steelmaking capacity 
by 1 million tonnes to 14.2 million tonnes, 
while simultaneously increasing captive 
generating capacity and maintaining 
100% self-sufficiency in iron ore through 
growth of concentrate output by 
2.3 million tonnes to 20 million tonnes 
per year and growth of pellet output by 
1.2 million tonnes to 8 million tonnes per 
year at Stoilensky.

3.  World-class  
sales portfolio 

Goal: Growth of steel product sales; 
Growth of high value added product 
output and sales

Target structural EBITDA gain: 
$0.45 BILLION 

Capex over the strategic period: 
$1.1 BILLION

In its Strategy 2022, the Company 
continues to focus on growing its sales 
and the HVA products share and sales 
in 'home’ markets (Russia, the EU, 
and the USA). Targeted sales growth 
amounts to 0.6 million tonnes up to 
18 million tonnes, with an increase in 
HVA product sales by 1.7 million tonnes. 
Sales growth in Russia, the EU and the 
USA to grow by 2.7 million tonnes.

OUTPUT INCREASE, M T

GROWTH OF SALES IN ‘HOME’ MARKETS: RUSSIA, EUROPE AND USA , M T

Concentrate

Pellets 

Steel

20.0
2.3

17.2*

0.5

8.0
1.2

14.2
1.0

13.2*

6.7

0.1

2018

2023	Target

2018

2023	Target

2018

2023	Target

Base level

Investment

Operational efficiency

2018

17.4  
M Т

5.8  Russia

3.2  Europe

3.2  USA

5.2   Other  

markets

10.5   Sales to home 
markets

2023	Target

18.0  
M Т

7.0  Russia

4.2  Europe

3.2  USA

3.5   Other  

markets

13.2   Sales to home 
markets

GROWTH OF CAPTIVE GENERATING CAPACITY

INCREASE IN HIGH VALUE ADDED PRODUCT SALES, M T

Captive power 
generation,	%

94

59

Secondary gases  
utilization,	%

100

91

2018

Target

2018

Target

+1.0

+0.1

-0.5

SALES GROWTH, M T

17.4
6.1

11.3

18.0
7.8

10.2

2018

Steel output  
growth

Pig iron and extra 
billets sales

3rd	party	slabs	 
for	the	US	assets

2023	Target

Commodity products

HVA products

*  Normalized capacity level

+ 1.7  
  М Т

0,6   Premium HRC

0,4   Premium thick plate

0,1 

 CRC

0,3   Coated steel

0,2   Electrical steel

0,1  Metalware

4.  Leadership  
in sustainability and safety  

Goal: minimization of environmental 
footprint and safe operations

Leadership in sustainability 
and safety remain a priority for 
NLMK Group. Priority environmental 
areas include: 
 $ Further minimization of 

environmental footprint, including 
a reduction of specific emissions 
per tonne of steel at NLMK Russia 
to the level of best available 
EU technologies

 $ Further reduction of injury rate to 

LTIFR 0.5

 $ High level of social security, 
personnel motivation and 
engagement

NLMK'S LTIFR

1.96

1.6

1.15

1.12

0.85

0.77

0.5

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2023	Target

32

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NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsKey  
performance 
indicators 

BUSINESS MODEL EFFICIENCY 

Steelmaking  
capacity utilization

DESCRIPTION

Utilization rate of crude  
steel production capacities, %

Steel product sales

Slab cash cost

Total sales of steel products  
to external consumers  
of all NLMK Group facilities, m t

Consolidated cash cost  
for slab production  
at NLMK Lipetsk, $/t

99

98

17.4

283

95

95

93

16.5

15.8

15.9

15.1

266

250

206

194

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

PERFORMANCE REPORT

2018 targets met

Steel product sales targets exceeded

Cost leadership position retained

2018 COMMENTS

Thanks to efficient sales portfolio 
management and an advantage of low-cost 
production NLMK managed to ensure high 
utilization of its steelmaking capacities

Sales reached a record 17.4 million tonnes 
(+6% yoy), driven by increased demand for 
semis and an increase in long products sales 
in Russia

Slab cash cost at NLMK Lipetsk grew by 6% 
to $266 per tonne due to a surge in prices for 
main raw materials. Despite that, NLMK was 
able to retain its cost leadership thanks to its 
vertically integrated business model

34

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NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlights 
 
 
 
 
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

EBITDA

DESCRIPTION

EBITDA margin  

Net profit

Free cash flow

Net debt / EBITDA

Dividends

Profit before taxes, interest  
and depreciation received from  
NLMK Group’s core businesses, $ bn

Profitability of the Company’s  
operations before interest,  
taxes and depreciation, %

NLMK Group’s profit after income 
and expense. One of the elements used 
to determine dividend payments, $ bn

Net cash flow after investment and interest 
payments refers to cash that the Company 
can use to strengthen liquidity, repay 
liabilities, pay dividends, or for other 
corporate needs

The Company’s financial debt adjusted for 
the value of liquid assets, and then divided 
by EBITDA, characterizes the Company’s 
debt leverage. Used as a trigger to 
determine the share of dividends to be paid. 
NLMK Group’s target indicator stands at 1.0x

Cash paid to shareholders according to 
the Company’s dividend policy and based 
on its financial situation and prospects 
for development

3.6

2.7

23

24

25

26

2.4

1.9

1.9

30

2.2

2.0

0.70

%*	of	FCF**

26%

65%

84%

113%

102%
2.1

1.5

1.0

0.9

0.8

1.2

1.1

1.0

1.3

0.60

0.39

0.35

0.25

1.4

0.9

0.6

0.3

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018E

PERFORMANCE REPORT

2018 targets exceeded by 46%

2018 targets exceeded

Not applicable

Target – positive cash flow – achieved 

Debt leverage does not exceed target values 

In line with NLMK’s current dividend policy

2018 COMMENTS

Strong profit in 2018 was largely driven by 
higher sales volumes, expanding spreads and 
additional Strategy 2017 gains 

An increase in EBITDA margin was supported 
by wider price spreads and structural gains 
from operational efficiency improvement 
programme

54% growth of net profit was due to 
the growth of operating profit and a decrease 
in the effective income tax rate due to the 
recognition in Q4 2018 of tax losses incurred 
earlier by NLMK USA

Consistently high free cash flow is secured 
by EBITDA growth and lower cash outflow 
to finance working capital vs. 2017 

Thanks to a substantial free cash flow, 
Net debt/EBITDA ratio is maintained below 
the target

Thanks to a stable financial position and the 
growth of free cash flow, dividend payments 
increased by ~ 45% to $2.1 billion

36

37

*  Share of the free cash flow (FCF).

**	 FCF	‑	free	cash	flow

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlights 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE

Labour productivity

LTIFR

DESCRIPTION

Specific  
air emissions

Total energy  
consumption 

Specific water  
consumption

Total waste  
production

Crude steel production per one  
employee, tonne of steel/pers.

Lost time injury frequency rate across  
NLMK Group, including contractors

Air emissions (gases, dust, etc.)  
per tonne of crude steel

Energy consumption, including electricity, 
heat and non-renewable fuels, PJ

Specific non-reused water consumption  
(the difference between the total water 
withdrawal and discharge), m³ / t of steel

Total waste production,  
NLMK Group, '000 t

321

328

308

1.6

283

268

20.1

20.1

20.0

1.15

1.12

0.85

0.77

19.5

18.9

610.0

603.5

604.3

602.7

6.1

5.7

5.5

63.2

63.5

60.0

57.3

4.9

4.6

49.4

591.1

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

PERFORMANCE REPORT

Labour productivity consistently increases 

2018 targets met

Emissions consistently decrease

Total energy consumption decreases

NLMK Group's specific water consumption 
consistently decreases

NLMK Group's total waste production 
consistently decreases

2018 COMMENTS

Growth in labour productivity in 2018 was 
driven by increased operational efficiency

Group LTIFR was reduced by 31% vs. 2017 
thanks to management’s operational safety 
improvement initiatives 

Consistent reduction of air emissions thanks 
to environmental initiatives, and investments 
in environmental projects and better 
environmental safety standards 

Reduction of energy consumption is 
associated with the implementation of energy 
saving initiatives in the reporting year

Specific consumptive water use  decreased 
by 6% yoy due to a decrease in water intake as 
a result of equipment upgrades

Total waste generation decreased  
by 13% yoy driven by a decrease in mining 
waste generation at Stoilensky

38

39

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlights 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NLMK Group's 
business model

A flexible and well-balanced 

business model secures industry 
leadership for NLMK Group. 

UPSTREAM

T he status of one of the most cost-

efficient steelmakers in the world 
is achieved through a world-class 
resource base with leading-edge 
technologies for mining and processing, 
an optimal process environment and high 
professionalism of the NLMK team.

SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN RESOURCES  
FOR STEEL PRODUCTION IN RUSSIA, %

100

97

100

NLMK advantages

Iron ore production 

Stoilensky is one of the most efficient 
iron ore producers in the world, 
located 250 km from the Group’s main 
production facility in Lipetsk. Stoilensky's 
iron ore reserves are upward of 5 billion 
tonnes, concentrate cash cost is close 
to $12 per tonne. 

Captive coke production 

guarantees NLMK high-quality coke 
products, which boost the efficiency of 
operations further along the value chain. 

NLMK’s scrap collection 
and processing network 

is the largest in Russia, securing stable 
delivery of scrap to NLMK Group’s 
Russian steelmaking facilities. 

Captive electric energy 

is generated primarily through the 
recovery of by-product gases from coke 
and blast furnace operations.

59

60

y
g
r
e
n
E

p
a
r
c
S

e
k
o
C

UP TO 100% OF RAW MATERIALS  
PRODUCED ARE USED FURTHER  
IN THE STEEL PRODUCTION PROCESS

e
r
o
n
o
r
I

e
t
a
r
t
n
e
c
n
o
c

s
t
e

l
l

e
P

VALUE CHAIN

SUPPLIERS

UPSTREAM

MIDSTREAM

DOWNSTREAM

CONSUMERS

IRON ORE
Stoilensky

SCRAP
NLMK Vtorchermet

COKE
Altai-Koks
NLMK Lipetsk

LIMESTONE 
AND DOLOMITE
Stagdok
Dolomit

BF/BOF 
STEELMAKING
NLMK Lipetsk 

EAF
NLMK Russia long
NLMK USA
NLMK Europe

NLMK RUSSIA
Flat

NLMK RUSSIA
Long

NLMK EUROPE
Plate

NLMK EUROPE
Strip

NLMK USA

IMPACT ON STEEL CASH COST REDUCTION 
PER TONNE IN 2018, $/T

341

75

266

2018 facts and figures:

 ▶ Iron ore production: 18.4 million tonnes (+7% yoy),  

including: 6.7 million tonnes of pellets (+0.7 m t yoy);  
10.2 million tonnes of commercial concentrate;  
1.5 million tonnes of sinter ore.

 ▶ The output of iron ore concentrate totalled 17.4 million tonnes.  

Part of this volume is used for pellets production.

 ▶ Cash cost of iron ore concentrate: $12/t (flat yoy)

Lipetsk slab  
cash cost

Impact  
of vertical  
integration

Consolidated  
NLMK slab  
cash cost

 ▶ Total coke production: 6.4 million tonnes (- 0.5 m t yoy),  

covers more than 100% of NLMK Lipetsk's needs.

GLOBAL IRON ORE CONCENTRATE  
CASH COST CURVE IN 2018

Development in 2018:

50
40
30
20
10

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
Cumulative capacity, m t

Source: Bloomberg

 ▶ Stoilensky gained additional +1.7 million tonnes of concentrate yoy 
from implementation of the high-pressure grinding technology (HPGRs). 
The construction of the additional beneficiation section started. Three new 
grinding lines will increase the volume of concentrate output to 20 million 
tonnes per year by 2020. 

The Company has also embarked on its coal charge stamping project at 
Altai-Koks’ operating battery No. 5. This will improve the quality of coke and 
reduce its cost, as well as boost environmental performance.

40

41

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlights 
 
 
MIDSTREAM

L eading-edge equipment and finely 

tuned business processes enable 
the production of high-quality 
cost-efficient steel products. 
NLMK Group’s steel production capacity 
exceeds 17.5 million tonnes per year, 95% 
of which is made in Russia.

NLMK'S STEELMAKING CAPACITY

17.5  
М Т

94%  Russia

2%	 EU

6%	 USA

NLMK advantages

Cost leadership

Sales vs. further processing

74% of NLMK steel is processed into 
finished products, while 26% is sold as 
semi-finished steel. NLMK produces 
both flat and long steel products and 
our reputation as a reliable supplier 
ensures stable demand for the Group’s 
product offering. 

High capacity utilization

An expansive product offering and 
availability of the Company's rolling 
facilities in the regions of consumption, 
i.e. Russia, Europe and the United States, 
enable NLMK to maintain a high capacity 
utilization rate of 99% throughout 
the cycle.

NLMK is among the global leaders 
in cost. Over the past five years, 
the Company managed to consolidate 
its leadership: the gap between NLMK’s 
steel cash cost and the industry average 
has increased from 25% to 32%. 
NLMK Group enjoys sustainable cost 
leadership through its unique business 
model that ensures high utilization 
rates, efficient vertical integration 
and upgraded production capacities. 
The production cost of the Lipetsk 
steel in 2018 was $266 per tonne, 
compared to a world industry average 
of $393 per tonne. 

Optimal logistics

Production facilities located in regions 
with developed infrastructure and in close 
proximity to raw material sources lowers 
outlay on logistics as well as related risks.

17.5  
М Т

75%  BOF

25%  EAF

2018 facts and figures:

 ▶ Steel output: 17.5 million tonnes (with NBH)

 ▶ NLMK Group steelmaking capacity utilization rate: 99%

 ▶ Slab cash cost of the Lipetsk site: $266/t

SLAB SUPPLIES TO SUBSIDIARIES  
AND JOINT VENTURES, M T

Development in 2018:

4.07

3.83

3.96

4.21

4.28

2.85

 ▶ In 2018, NLMK Group began the upgrade of a continuous casting machine 
at the Lipetsk site. This upgrade will enable a 80%  increase in the unit's 
productivity (from 1.0 to 1.8 million tonnes per year) as well as the production 
of large-format slabs for plates, which are used in the production of large-
diameter pipes, wind power equipment, ships and oil drilling rigs.

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

42

DOWNSTREAM

F inished products are made locally 

in the Company’s strategic 
markets of Russia, the EU and 
the USA, in close proximity to 

consumers. With a total production 
capacity of finished products of 
14.7 million tonnes, NLMK can process 
as much as 90% of captive crude steel at 
its own rolling facilities. 

ROLLING CAPACITY 
BREAKDOWN

14.7  
М Т

59%  Russia

21%	 EU

20%	 USA

14.7  
М Т

81% 

 Flat  
products

19% 

 Long  
products

THE GROUP CAN SATISFY  
UP TO 100% OF INTERNAL  
DEMAND FOR SLABS  
FROM ITS MAIN STEELMAKING 
FACILITY IN LIPETSK

NLMK advantages

High quality

Diversification of sales

The use of captive raw materials in rolled 
steel production guarantees consistent 
high quality and short lead times. 
The Company’s products are certified 
to international standards. 

Optimal  
production footprint

Due to the location of NLMK Group’s 
rolling operations in strategic markets, 
61% of steel is sold in the region where it 
was produced. This allows the Company 
to meet the customers’ most challenging 
delivery timescales and respond rapidly 
to local demand fluctuations.

An expansive geographical breakdown 
of sales and a flexible marketing policy 
create a global footprint, with the agility to 
divert sales of steel products to the most 
attractive market, ensuring full utilization 
of production capacity throughout the 
value chain. 

Balanced  
product portfolio

NLMK’s extensive steel product offering, 
from conventional hot-rolled steel to 
custom electrical steels and other 
niche products, allows the Company to 
diversify sales by sector, reducing the 
dependency of sales volume on demand 
fluctuations in individual sectors.

2018 facts and figures:

 ▶ Finished steel output (with NBH):  

13.1 million tonnes (+0.35 million tonnes yoy).

 ▶ Growth in sales to home markets +11% vs. 2013. 

 ▶ Sales to more than 70 countries around the world.

 ▶ Flat steel accounts for 82% of steel produced,  

while the remaining 18% are attributed to long steel.

Development in 2018:

 ▶ In 2018, the output of finished steel increased by 3% yoy. The Group's 
international companies and the Long Products segment demonstrated an 
increase in finished steel output. 

43

ABOUT NLMK Strategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsNLMKANNUAL REPORT I 20182018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profile 
 
NLMK  
Production System

T he Production System is one 

of the key tools used by the 
Company to achieve its strategic 
goals. Under Strategy 2017, 

operational efficiency gains brought 
the Group more than $865 million 
per year in EBITDA growth, which 
accounted for about 64% of the Strategy’s 
total gains 2014-2018. Part of these gains 
were achieved through the roll out of 
NLMK Production System. 

Our objective in NPS rollout is not 
only short-term results, but also making 
sure that these results are reproducible 
and sustainable in the future. This may 
be achieved by:
 $ Continuously searching for potential 
ways to improve all processes (from 
the supply of raw materials to the 
shipment of finished products)

 $ Focusing the efforts of employees on 

priority areas for improvement

 $ Creating an environment that allows 
employees to develop and involving 
them in the process of continuous 
improvement by striking an effective 
balance between the interests of 
employees and those of the Group.

NLMK Group began building its 
Production System in 2009. Since then, 
we have come a long way: we successfully 
formulated the principles of the 
Production System; defined the technical 
model, and the goal-setting system. 
Moreover, we created a performance 
management system at various levels; 
and a suite of effective tools to boost 
productivity on the basis of best practices 
used in leading companies worldwide.
Today, NLMK Production System 
covers all of the Group’s enterprises and 
operates across all production areas, 
providing real-time monitoring of over 
1,000 technical and financial indicators. 
We have deployed 11 different tools 
to boost productivity, including: A3, 
mapping, control charts, equipment 
inspection checklists, standard operating 
procedures, initiatives, and downtime 
analysis using the 5 Whys approach, etc.

In 2016, a new stage in the 

development of NLMK Production 
System started, the goal of which 
was to involve staff at all levels in the 
optimization of production processes.

A distinctive element of this stage of 

NPS rollout are the so-called “waves”. 
So what is a “wave”? The project team 

NLMK Production System (NPS) 
 ▶ is a business management approach 
based on optimization of business 
processes and systematic use of its 
tools, which increases production 
efficiency and engages staff in the 
continuous improvement process.

Second wave of NPS  
development completed
 ▶ More than 1,700 initiatives were 
implemented with an economic impact 
of $71 million.

Third wave of NPS  
roll-out was launched
 ▶ A new stage of NPS development has 
begun at NLMK Lipetsk, Stoilensky, Altai-
Koks, and NLMK Ural.

arrives at the selected site and works 
there for 9–10 months. During this time, 
the team trains the employees on site: 
they are taught to use NPS tools with 
confidence and to develop the skills and 
competencies they will need to work in 
new conditions. Most importantly, they 
foster a new ideology and production 
culture. Then, the team moves on to the 
next wave at a new site, and the project 
is ‘handed over to the production line’: in 
other words, it is further developed by the 
staff who were trained on site.

NPS TOOLS

Checklist
A list of actions that must be 
performed one after another in 
order to accomplish the task. In 
order to make the checklist as 
clear as possible, items may be 
illustrated using photographs, 
drawings, or diagrams.
Why: this is one of the best ways 
to protect against human error 
resulting from forgetfulness, 
inattention, information overload, 
or lack of communication

6S
Workplace organization system 
based on six principles: Sort, 
Set in Order, Shine, Safety, 
Standardize, and Sustain
Why: To make working 
processes as clear and effective 
as possible, to save time and 
reduce other losses, to increase 
safety, and to improve the overall 
production culture

A3
A structured approach to solving 
problems without an obvious 
answer. In order to find the 
answer, you need to assemble 
a team, set a goal, develop a 
schedule for working group 
meetings, traverse the entire path 
for a certain system, and obtain a 
result: an action plan written out 
on an A3 sheet of paper.
Why: the problem and its solution 
are described together in a 
comprehensive yet concise way.

SOP/PRM
Instructions, containing details 
about who should carry out the 
prescribed actions and where, 
when, and how they should be 
performed. Standard operating 
procedures (SOPs) are used 
by repair staff, and process 
road maps (PRMs) are used by 
technicians.
Why: They help us to embed 
good working practices. These 
are described in an intelligible 
form and can be studied by all 
interested parties, from new 
employees who are just starting 
on the job to senior managers 
who want to extent their 
professional knowledge.

First wave: 2016-2017
The first wave was rolled out at 
NLMK Kaluga in 2016-2017. In 2017 the 
number of initiatives implemented at 
NLMK Kaluga exceeded 1,350 with total 
gain of close to $7.9 million.

Second wave: 2017-2018 
The second wave of NPS roll out 
covered NLMK Lipetsk (the sinter 
plant) and Stoilensky (the beneficiation 
and pelletizing plants). This stage 
was completed in 2018. During this 
wave, more than 1,700 initiatives were 
implemented, with a total economic 
impact of about $71 million. 

Third wave: launched in 2018 
The third wave of NPS rollout was also 
launched in the middle of the reporting 
period. This wave concerns four 
companies: NLMK Lipetsk (steel 
making), Stoilensky (open-pit mining), 
Altai-Koks (production of coke and 
chemical products), and NLMK Ural 
(production of rebar, angles, and steel 
billets). All four companies have already 
developed their initiatives, which are 
expected to bring more than $34 million. 
This wave is expected to end in 2019.

Looking forward
In the Strategy 2022 cycle, the Group will 
begin a gradual transition from managing 
operational improvement programmes to 
a continuous improvement management 
system, which will allow staff to be even 
more involved in these processes. 

TATYANA AVERCHENKOVA,  
VICE PRESIDENT,  
OPERATIONAL  
EFFICIENCY:

 ▶ “The results of Strategy 2017 suggest that the annual impact of operational 
efficiency programmes on the Company's financial performance amounts to 
additional $865 million EBITDA gains. The potential for further improving the Group's 
operating efficiency over the next five years is $500 million. Not only because 
the Group has considerable untapped potential for efficiency improvements, but 
also because this potential is never-ending: the Company is growing, and new 
opportunities are emerging. NLMK Production System is systematically changing 
the Company's processes and culture.

“It now covers all major Russian production sites, extending beyond the scope of 
production to take in occupational safety, repairs, energy, and logistics. It will soon be 
extended to cover other primary and supporting business processes.”

44

45

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsInnovations

T he Company engages in research 

and innovation based on 
customer needs and an analysis 
of promising metallurgical 

technologies. NLMK Group focuses 
on computational modelling and 
developing laboratory samples rather 
than conducting full-scale experiments 
on industrial equipment. 

For this purpose, a separate corporate 

research centre has been established 
which manages projects aimed at 
devising new products. The centre 
has been allocated the necessary 
resources to create digital and physical 
prototypes of steel products and carry 
out advanced metallurgical research. 
The main laboratory complex is located 
at the Lipetsk production site, while 
the centre of competence charged with 
the development of computational 
modelling and the creation of digital 
prototypes is located in Belgium.
In addition to the corporate 
research centre, the Company has 
an Innovation Projects Committee 
established in 2018 under the leadership 
of NLMK's President (Chairman of the 
Management Board). The Committee 
is a key governing body for innovation. 
Its main tasks include optimization of 
internal processes enabling search and 
quick adaptation of innovative business 
solutions, as well as allocation of 
necessary resources for implementation 
of innovative projects. 

NLMK actively interacts with the 
innovation ecosystem and establishes 
mechanisms for systematic work with 
venture funds, development institutions 
and technology parks both in Russia 
and abroad. The goal of this work is 
to create a constant flow of projects 
and subsequent introduction of those 
innovations that economically and 
strategically fit the Group sites.

Research  
& Development

The roadmap for the Company’s 
research and development activities is 
the R&D functional area development 
concept for the next three years, which 
was approved by the Group's Board 
of Directors in 2018. The Company is 
currently putting in place a process base 
to regulate the project management 
approaches that are used to implement 
research and innovation projects.

As at the end of 2018, the Company 

has identified two priority areas for 
research and development: high-tech 
zinc-aluminium-magnesium (ZAM) 
coatings and development of new grades 
of high-strength steel for automotive 
industry. 

TOP PRIORITIES FOR RESEARCH 
& DEVELOPMENT IN 2019−2022

Introduce product innovations aimed at helping the Group  
catch up with foreign competitors

Establish a diversified product portfolio for the automotive, heavy 
engineering, industrial and civil construction, and energy industries

1

2

46

Big data  
and mathematical  
modelling

The Data Analysis and Modelling 
Department, established last year, has 
hit the ground running. 

In 2018 we continued to develop the 
Systems, Data Analysis, and Modelling 
(SADIM) platform, which addresses 
both data accessibility and data quality 
(data lakes). It also provides tools for 
computing and analysis. These efforts 
will form the basis for a new digital 
platform, the architecture of which 
is currently being developed in the 
Digitalization functional area. SADIM 
is already enabling the Group to develop 
models and digital services. In 2018, 
the Group succeeded in developing 
its key components and establishing 
connections between data sources that 
are important to the Company's work.
The creation of the Data Analysis 
and Modelling Department team, which 
employs data science specialists, data 
engineers, analysts, and digital project 
managers, was a significant achievement 
of 2018.

Innovations  
Laboratory

In 2017, NLMK Group and SAP 
established the Co-Innovation Lab, 
the first project of its kind in the 
Russian steel industry, building on 
the partnership between the two 
companies. The main job of the 
laboratory is to prototype innovative 
ideas in order to test existing digital 
technologies on the market and their 
applicability to NLMK. Prototyping 
allows the Company to test the 
performance of a specific technology, as 
well as assess the benefits that the use 
of technology can bring to the Group 
companies, including in occupational 
health and safety, finance, procurement 
and logistics processes.

One of the brightest and most 

innovative projects in 2018 was 
a positioning system for shop-floor 
employees of one of production lines.
Safety of employees was a priority 
for the Company when developing this 
prototype. The system enables real-
time tracking of employee positioning 
and in case of an emergency, activates 
an alarm to notify the foreman or other 
employees nearby. 

ANDZHEY ARSHAVSKIY,  
DIRECTOR FOR DATA  
ANALYSIS AND  
MODELLING:

 ▶ “The speed of digital transformation is now so fast it almost beggars belief. 
A year ago, for instance, a steelworker would decide how much ferroalloys to load in 
the furnace based on operating instructions and their personal experience. Today 
artificial intelligence, trained in machine learning, helps to use expensive material 
at various stages of melting more accurately.

“Today Bid Data and mathematical modelling are fairly new for the industrial 
sector, but we are actively developing these. We have hundreds of production lines 
and 20 large sites in seven countries around the world. We collect terabytes of data 
about production process parameters. If this data became available for analysis, it 
would allow us to make decisions about how to manage these processes better.”

Plans for 2019  
and midterm

Within the framework of the approved 
medium-term research and development 
strategy, the Company in the next 3-4 
years plans to implement a number of 
projects, including:
 $ Production of steel for hot stamping, 
as well as coatings for this type of 
steel for the production of power 
parts of the car body

 $ Production of advanced high-
strength plates for the needs 
of engineering, construction 
of offshore structures

 $ Improvement of the production 

technology of high-permeable grain-
oriented and non-grain oriented 
steels with low energy losses, 
including for the production of 
electric vehicle engines

 $ Development of products with the 
replacement of expensive alloying 
elements with cheaper ones while 
preserving product properties.

47

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsMarket 
review 

G lobal steel output grew by 5% 

yoy in 2018 to 1.81 billion tonnes 
according to Worldsteel 
Association. Average global 

capacity utilization was 77.8% 

Global steel market was on the 
rise in 2018 after a recovery in 
consumption in 2017

Steel production in China (50% of global 
steel output) increased by 7% yoy up to 
927 million tonnes. Global apparent 
steel consumption grew by 4% yoy to 
1.66 billion tonnes and by 8% yoy to 
781 million tonnes in China.

At the same time, export from China 
reduced by 8% yoy to 70 million tonnes, 
driven by the recovery of domestic 
demand for steel in China and the plan 
to improve environmental situation 
during the winter period.

Global steel  
production
 ▶ Production increased by 5% yoy to 
1.81 billion tonnes, hitting an all-time high. 
 ▶ Global steelmaking capacity utilization 
increased to 77.8%. Protectionism 
continued to grow.

Regional  
trends
 ▶ Group’s home markets (Russia, 
the US and the EU) continued to increase, 
supported by economic growth.

Slowdown of exports  
from China and price trends
 ▶ Growth of domestic demand, trade 
restrictions and closure of excess capacity 
led to a downturn in exports. 
 ▶ Prices for steel and raw materials 
continued to grow in 2018.

GLOBAL STEEL PRODUCTION, BN T

STEEL PRODUCTION BY REGION, %

CHINESE EXPORTS, M T

51

1.81

1.73

1.66

1.62

1.63

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

18

i

a
n
h
C

.
l
c
x
e
a
i
s
A

i

a
n
h
C

9

8
2
U
E

4

a
i
s
s
u
R

7

6

s
r
e
h
t
O

a
c
i
r
e
m
A
h
t
r
o
N

112

109

94

76

70

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2

a
c
i
r
e
m
A
h
t
u
o
S

2

t
s
a
E
e
d
d
M

l

i

US market

EU market 

Russian market

Price trends 

GLOBAL RAW MATERIALS PRICES, $/T

Steel production in the US increased 
by 4% yoy to 87 million tonnes in 2018, 
capacity utilization was 78%.

Steel production remained flat 
at 168 million tonnes.

Driven by economic recovery, apparent 
consumption of finished steel grew by 
1% yoy in 2018. 

 $ Steel consumption increased by 

3% yoy in 2018 to 101 million tonnes, 
driven by growing demand from the 
construction and automotive sectors. 
Import of steel products reduced by 
10% yoy to 31 million tonnes amid 
Section 232 restrictions, while 
exports decreased by 15% yoy to 
8 million tonnes.

 $ Apparent consumption of steel in 
the EU in 2018 grew by 3% yoy to 
163 million tonnes, driven by stronger 
demand from the construction and 
transport sectors as well as machine 
building. 

 $ Import of flat and long steel grew 
by 12% yoy to 29 million tonnes; 
export reduced by 10% yoy to 
21 million tonnes. 

 $ Steel output in Russia in 

2018 increased by 1% yoy to 
72 million tonnes, while imports 
of rolled steel reduced by 7% yoy to 
6 million tonnes and exports by 2% 
to 14 million tonnes.

Global average prices for coal grew 
by 12% yoy, impacted by weather and 
infrastructure constraints in Australia 
and the US throughout the year. Ore 
prices dropped by 2% yoy. Average 
steel product prices grew year-on-year: 
in the US by 17-33%, in Russia by 4-13%, 
and in the EU by 6-11%.

100
90
80
70
60
50

260
240
220
200
180
160

7
1
0
2
.
1
0

7
1
0
2
.
3
0

7
1
0
2
.
5
0

7
1
0
2
.
7
0

7
1
0
2
.
9
0

7
1
0
2
.
1
1

8
1
0
2
.
2
0

8
1
0
2
.
4
0

8
1
0
2
.
6
0

8
1
0
2
.
8
0

8
1
0
2
.
0
1

8
1
0
2
.
2
1

Iron ore (CFR, China)

Coal (FOB, Australia) , rhs

HOT-ROLLED STEEL PRICES, EXW, $/T

1000
900
800
700
600
500

7
1
0
2
.
1
0

7
1
0
2
.
3
0

7
1
0
2
.
5
0

7
1
0
2
.
7
0

7
1
0
2
.
9
0

7
1
0
2
.
1
1

8
1
0
2
.
2
0

8
1
0
2
.
4
0

8
1
0
2
.
6
0

8
1
0
2
.
8
0

8
1
0
2
.
0
1

8
1
0
2
.
2
1

Source: Bloomberg, Worldsteel, Eurofer, Metal Expert. Data are preliminary.

Source: Bloomberg, SBB

Russia

EU

USA

48

49

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlights 
 
 
 
 
Our 
approach to 
sustainability 
management

A s one of the largest international 

producers of steel and steel 
products, NLMK Group is aware 
of its responsibility towards 

society, nature, and future generations. 
Our team is united by corporate 
values that shape NLMK’s approach to 
responsible leadership.

NLMK Group’s activities are 
based on a commitment to such key 
sustainability values as the promotion of 
employee health and wellbeing, respect 
for local communities, environmental 
protection, and conducting business in 
accordance with high ethical standards, 
constructive and mutually beneficial 
collaboration with stakeholders, and 
information transparency.

NLMK Group’s approach to 

managing the economic, environmental, 
and social aspects of its operations 
is based on global best sustainability 
practices. At all stages of its operations, 
the Group strives to take into 
account the needs and expectations 
of stakeholders while treating 
local communities, employees, and 
the environment with respect.

NLMK Group is committed 

to continuously improving its 
sustainability performance and 
integrating responsible business 
principles into its day-to-day operations. 
In managing sustainability aspects, 
NLMK Group is guided by the principles 
of the UN Global Compact.

NLMK GROUP VALUES   GRI 102‑16  

Value

Description

Continuous  
improvement  
of processes

Client oriented  
approach

Continuous improvement of processes and technologies  
to ensure efficient production of steel products that help improve  
the quality of life

Production of unique premium quality steel products and 
development of engineering solutions that help our customers  
to be on the cutting edge of innovation and to lead in their markets

Absolute priority  
of the health and safety  
of our employees

Unwavering	commitment	to	protecting	health	and	safety	of	our	
employees and contractors and ensuring favourable working 
conditions that allow our employees to fulfil their potential for 
professional and personal growth

Ensuring equal 
opportunities for  
employee development

Ensuring equal opportunities for professional and personal  
growth of our employees, motivating our employees  
to	be	proactive	and	innovation‑driven

Sustainable use  
of resources

Sustainable use of resources and pursuit of the best available 
environmental and energy efficiency standards, which we also  
expect our partners to comply with

Active approach to  
social responsibility

Active approach to social responsibility and care  
for cultural legacy in the regions where we operate

NLMK GROUP SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES

Priority

Areas of Activity

Operational  
efficiency  
improvement

Energy  
efficiency

Developing local 
communities

Personnel  
development

 ▶ Reducing the consumption of certain types of resources through 

the	introduction	of	cutting‑edge	technologies	and	advanced	waste	
processing methods

 ▶ Increasing production of the Group’s captive power generation  

by	utilizing	by‑product	fuel	gases

 ▶ Upgrading	equipment
 ▶ Generating energy from secondary resources
 ▶ Implementing	energy‑saving	initiatives

 ▶ Helping to solve the most acute social problems faced  

by the regions where we operate, in partnership with government  
bodies and the public

 ▶ Charitable initiatives and programmes
 ▶ Developing culture, science, education, and sport 
 ▶ Work with children and young people

 ▶ Hiring and retention of qualified staff, development  

of a motivation and remuneration system

 ▶ Organizing vocational training
 ▶ Developing the Group’s corporate culture
 ▶ Engaging employees in the process of continuous improvement
 ▶ Introducing digitalization and implementing  

best HR practices

Occupational  
health and safety

 ▶ Applying best practices in occupational health  

and safety management

 ▶ Managing occupational safety risks
 ▶ Maintaining and developing a safety culture among NLMK Group 

employees and contractors

Minimizing  
environmental  
footprint

 ▶ Carrying out planned environmental  

and technological initiatives

 ▶ Implementing projects from NLMK Group’s  

investment programme 

 ▶ Making efficient use of natural resources
 ▶ Implementing projects to reduce emissions  

and discharge of pollutants
 ▶ Restoring contaminated land  

and conducting rehabilitation work

Sustainability 
management 

50

51

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR MANAGING 
SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES AT NLMK

AUDIT DEPARTMENT  
(INTERNAL AUDIT SERVICE)

BOARD  
OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT  
(CHAIRMAN OF THE 
MANAGEMENT BOARD)

MANAGEMENT  
BOARD

STRATEGIC PLANNING 
COMMITTEE

HUMAN RESOURCES, 
REMUNERATIONS, AND SOCIAL 
POLICY COMMITTEE

AUDIT  
COMMITTEE

INVESTMENT  
COMMITTEE

RISK MANAGEMENT  
COMMITTEE

VICE PRESIDENT,  
HEALTH, SAFETY & 
ENVIRONMENT

 $ Environmental impact 

management

 $ Occupational health  

and safety

 $ Fire safety

 $ Industrial Risk 
management

VICE PRESIDENT,  
ENERGY

VICE PRESIDENT,  
RISK MANAGEMENT

VICE PRESIDENT, 
PROCUREMENT

VICE PRESIDENT,  
HR & MANAGEMENT 
SYSTEM

 $ Energy efficiency 
management

 $ Risk management  
and internal control

 $ Anti‑corruption	 

and countering fraud

 $ Government relations

 $ Legal issue  
management

 $ Operational procurement 

management

 $ Human resource 
development

 $ Investment procurement 

 $ Reward and motivation 

management

 $ Procurement  
development

 $ Personnel training  
and development

 $ Social Policy 

 $ Staff turnover

FUNCTIONAL DEPARTMENTS AND TEAMS AT THE GROUP’S RUSSIAN AND INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES

Sustainability measures are regulated 

by a number of NLMK Group’s internal 
documents. A more detailed list of these 
documents can be found further in 
the text of this Report.

(Chairman of the Management Board) 
and the Management Board determine 
the strategic directions for development 
and ensure overall sustainability 
management. 

Sustainability management is 
integrated into the NLMK Group 
corporate governance system and is 
carried out at all Group companies, 
including international. Sustainability 
issues consistently feature on the 
agenda of NLMK Group’s leadership. 
The Board of Directors, committees 
of the Board of Directors, President 

Vice Presidents of functional 
areas are responsible for identifying 
specific tasks and initiatives to 
manage the social, economic, 
and environmental aspects 
of the Group’s activities and monitor 
their implementation. Departments 
responsible for developing approaches 
and implementing measures in the 

field of sustainability report to these 
Vice Presidents.

The Group’s functional departments 

and teams are directly responsible for 
executing the assigned tasks and for 
local management of sustainability 
issues at the Group’s companies.

52

53

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsContribution to the achievement of the 
Sustainable Development Goals adopted 
by the UN General Assembly

N LMK Group supports 

the Sustainable Development 
Goals adopted by the 
UN General Assembly in 2015 

to address the significant economic, 
social, and environmental issues the 
global community faces. 

We believe that the Group makes 

a valuable contribution to the 
achievement of global sustainability 
goals through its responsible business 
conduct and targeted activities aimed 
at reducing its environmental footprint, 
supporting local communities, and 
ensuring safe and decent working 
conditions. 

UN Goal

NLMK Group Contribution

Ensure healthy lives  
and promote wellbeing  
for all at all ages 

 ▶ Implementing training programmes in the field  

of occupational health and safety

 ▶ Implementing initiatives aimed at reducing water  
consumption, pollutant emissions and total waste

 ▶ Implementing programmes aimed at helping employees stay 
healthy and increasing the availability and quality of medical 
services for employees

 ▶ Informing Group employees and contractors about 

occupational safety rules 

See the following chapters of the Report:  
Occupational health and safety,  
Environmental protection,  
Supply chain management

Ensure inclusive and equitable  
quality education and promote lifelong  
learning opportunities for all 

 ▶ Cooperating with educational institutions to improve the quality 

of training programmes and vocational training for future 
employment opportunities   

 ▶ Implementing training and development programmes to 

enhance employees’ professional skills

 ▶ Implementing external social programmes aimed at supporting 

education in the regions where we operate

See the following chapters of the Report:  
Our team,  
Community development

Ensure availability  
and sustainable management  
of water and sanitation for all 

 ▶ Introducing water recycling systems 
 ▶ Implementing water treatment technologies 
 ▶ Reducing water intake through equipment upgrades
 ▶ Monitoring and disclosing information on the use of 

water resources

Ensure access to affordable,  
reliable, sustainable,  
and modern energy for all 

 ▶ Improving energy efficiency
 ▶ Transitioning to captive energy generation
 ▶ Consuming energy from secondary resources
 ▶ Monitoring and disclosing information on the volume of 

consumed energy 

See the following chapters of the Report:  
Environmental protection

See the following chapters of the Report:  
Energy efficiency

UN Goal

NLMK Group Contribution

Promote sustained, inclusive,  
and sustainable economic growth,  
full and productive employment,  
and decent work for all 

 ▶ Fulfilling tax obligations
 ▶ Ensuring equal access for all Group employees to social 

benefits and creating equal opportunities for high performance, 
professional growth, and the development of creative potential

 ▶ Creating jobs in the regions where we operate
 ▶ Implementing training and development programmes to 

enhance employees’ professional skills
 ▶ Ensuring decent and safe working conditions
 ▶ Developing NLMK Group’s Human rights policy prohibiting 
forced and child labour, recognizing the right to a minimum 
wage, outlawing discrimination, and guaranteeing  
safe working conditions

 ▶ Ensuring transparency of procurement procedures

 ▶ Supplier's	Code	of	Business	Conduct	binding	 

on all counterparties

 ▶ Evaluating supplier compliance with applicable  

occupational health and safety standards as part  
of auditing and qualifying suppliers and contractors 

 ▶ Implementing	initiatives	to	minimize	the	Group's	 

environmental footprint

See the following chapters of the Report:  
Our team,  
Community development,  
Operational health and safety,  
Human rights protection,  
Supply chain management,  
Environmental protection 

Ensure sustainable consumption  
and production patterns 

 ▶ Increasing the efficiency of natural resource usage
 ▶ Recycling ferrous scrap
 ▶ Implementing a series of measures aimed at improving energy 
efficiency, the efficiency of resource use and reducing the 
negative impact of production activities on the environment

 ▶ Upgrading	equipment	and	improving	technology	in	order	

to minimize their negative impact on human health and the 
environment

See the following chapters of the Report: Environmental protection

Promote peaceful and inclusive  
societies for sustainable development,  
provide access to justice for all, and build 
effective, accountable, and inclusive  
institutions at all levels 

 ▶ Countering corruption and fraud  

and preventing conflicts of interest

 ▶ Introducing NLMK employees to the Code  

of	Corporate	Ethics	and	Anti‑Corruption	Policy
 ▶ Introducing	Counterparties	to	the	Supplier's	Code	 

of Business Conduct 

 ▶ Creating and continuously improving efficient  

corporate governance practices

 ▶ Creating and developing a system of government relations
 ▶ Ensuring human rights protection
 ▶ Complying with applicable laws, including  

occupational practices

 ▶ Openly interacting with stakeholders  

and informing stakeholders about the positive  
and negative impacts of the Company

 ▶ Creating feedback channels 
 ▶ Monitoring and regular reporting on the management  
of environmental aspects, disclosing information  
on	legal	non‑compliance,	including	with	environmental	
protection and labour laws

See the following chapters of the Report:  
Corporate governance system,  
Operational control and risk management,  
Dialogue with stakeholders,  
Environmental protection

Strengthen the means of implementation  
and revitalize the global partnership  
for sustainable development

 ▶ Publishing	non‑financial	reporting	in	accordance	 

with the GRI standards

 ▶ Developing	practices	of	non‑financial	information	 

collection throughout the Group

 ▶ Cooperating with government authorities to ensure  

that the interests of local communities are taken into  
account	in	decision‑making

 ▶ Disclosing information on payments to the state budgets
 ▶ Concluding partnerships with NGOs to implement programmes 

aimed at developing local communities

 ▶ Supporting sustainability initiatives implemented by Russian 

and international industry organizations

 ▶ Strengthening partnerships with other companies  

in the industry

 ▶ Investing in the regions, where the Company operates  
(volunteer and charitable projects, social support)

 ▶ Promoting sustainable development practices in the framework 

of stakeholder engagement (including through regular 
environmental assessment of suppliers)

See the following chapters of the Report:  
Dialogue with stakeholders,  
Development of local communities,  
Environmental protection,  
Supply chain management,  
About the Report

54

55

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsGenerating  
economic value

B y implementing its activities 

in various areas of sustainable 
development, NLMK Group 
generated additional value for 
its stakeholders. In 2018, the volume of 
distributed economic value amounted to 
$11,565 million* , which is 18.3% higher 
than in 2017.

ECONOMIC VALUE GENERATED  
AND DISTRIBUTED, $ M   GRI 201‑1  

Participation in industry 
associations and external initiatives  

N LMK Group plays an active part 

in the life of the professional 
community, helping to address 
topical issues in the industry, 

including sustainability matters. 
Participation in external initiatives is 
a priority for NLMK Group. 

Representatives of the Group are not 

only active in the workplace; they also 
head a number of industry associations 
and relevant commissions and 
committees, which allows the Group to 
play an active role in shaping the views 
and values of the business community. 
For instance, Vladimir Lisin, 

NLMK Group’s Chairman of 
the Board of Directors, is also Chairman 
of the Commission on Metals and 
the Committee on Taxation Policy, 
as well as a member of the Management 
Bureau of the Russian Union of 
Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP). 

NLMK GROUP PARTICIPATION IN INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS  
AND EXTERNAL INITIATIVES   GRI 102‑12,	102‑13  

Indicator

Stakeholder group

2016

2017

2018

Association/Initiative

Description

Generated direct economic value

Revenue

Revenues from  
financial investments

Revenues from sale of assets

Distributed economic value

Wide range  
of stakeholders

7,684

10,104

12,069

7,636

10,065

12,046

39

9

29

10

21

2

(7,065)

(9,773)

(11,565)

Operating expenses

Wide range of stakeholders

(5,255)

(6,994)

(7,967)

Employee wages and other payments and benefits paid to employees

Employees

(824)

(960)

(979)

Payments to providers of capital

incl. dividends paid

incl. interests paid to creditors

Payments to government

Community investments

Non-distributed economic value

Shareholders  
and Investors

(667)

(1,354)

(1,946)

(583)

(1,285)

(1,890)

(84)

(69)

(56)

Government authorities

(307)

(454)

(662)

Local communities

(12)

619

(11)

331

(11)

504

World Steel Association,  
an international association of iron and steel product manufacturers

 ▶ Membership of various committees of the Association
 ▶ 2018 signatory to the Sustainable Development Charter  

Russian	Union	 
of Industrialists  
and Entrepreneurs

Russian Steel

of the World Steel Association

 ▶ Participation in conferences and seminars enabling the sharing  

of best practices in occupational health and safety
 ▶ Provision of information on sustainability indicators 

 ▶ Membership of the Management Bureau and Board
 ▶ Chairmanship of the Commission on Metals 
 ▶ Participation in other commissions and committees, including:  

Commission on Mining, Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility  
and Demographic Policies, Committee on Vocational Training  
and Qualifications, and Committee on Competition Development

 ▶ President and Vice President of the association
 ▶ Membership in all commissions of the association, including the Commission  

for the Protection of Labour, Industrial, and Environmental Safety

Consumer Council on the Operations of Russian Railways  
and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates

 ▶ Membership in the Council

Council of Electricity Consumers of the Russian Federation

 ▶ Membership in the Council

Expert Council of the Committee on Transport and Construction  
of the State Duma of the Russian Federation

 ▶ Participation in the Council as an expert

RUSLOM.COM	(Non‑Profit	Partnership	National	Self‑Regulatory	Organization	
for the	Recycling	of	Ferrous	and	Non‑Ferrous	Metal	Scrap	and	Waste	 
and Recycling of Vehicles)

 ▶ Participation in the Partnership

Anti‑Corruption	Charter	of	Russian	Business

 ▶ Participation in the Charter

* 

 Calculated as required by GRI Standard 201.

56

57

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlights2018 performance review

Operating 
performance

 $ Steel sales grew to an all-time high 

of 17.6* million tonnes.

 $ 12M 2018 Group revenue totalled 
$12.0 billion (+20% yoy) driven by 
booming average selling prices and 
higher sales.

 $ EBITDA increased to 

$3.6 billion (+35% yoy) driven by 
growing revenue and gains from 
operational efficiency programmes 
in 2018.

 $ Free cash flow increased by 60% yoy 

to $2.0 billion thanks to higher 
margins and positive working capital 
behaviour as compared to 2017.
 $ Net profit increased by 54% yoy 

to $2.2 billion.

 $ Net Debt/ EBITDA declined to 

0.25х (0.35х as at the end of 2017) 
driven by higher margins and net 
debt reduction by 3% yoy.

EBITDA MARGIN GROWTH

23%

24%

25%

26%

30%

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

DEBT REDUCTION (NET DEBT/EBITDA)

0.70

0.60

0.39

0.35

0.25

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

HIGHER DIVIDEND PAYMENT, $ BN

2.1

1.43

0.92

0.64

0.30
2014

2015

2016

2017

2018E

CONTINUOUS SALES* GROWTH, M T

15.8

15.9

15.1

17.6*

16.5

SHAMIL  
KURMASHOV,  
NLMK GROUP CFO:

 ▶ “In 2018, demand for steel continued to recover, coupled with a rise in 
protectionism in key markets.

“In this context, NLMK Group’s flexible business model that helped it secure its 
presence in key sales markets, enabled the Company to grow its sales by 7% yoy (by 
1.1 million tonnes) to 17.6 million tonnes¹, hitting an all-time high for the Company. 
NLMK Group retained its leadership on the Russian market in terms of steel output, 
and consolidated its positions on global markets. Revenue grew by 20% yoy to $12.0 
billion; NLMK’s EBITDA increased by 35% to $3.6 billion, while its EBITDA margin grew 
to 30% (+4 p.p. yoy).

“In 2018, NLMK Group continued its consistent operational efficiency efforts. 

EBITDA gains from the operational efficiency programme totalled $189 million 
tonnes to the 2017 cost base. The impact of capex projects executed as part of 
Strategy 2017 totalled an additional $121 m. Total gains from Strategy 2017 in  
2014-2018 were $1,348 m, which is significantly in excess of the $1 billion target².
“EBITDA growth and the decrease in cash outflow to finance working capital 
supported a 60% increase in the Group’s free cash flow yoy to $2.0 billion. Total debt 
decreased by 9% yoy, while the cost of financing reduced from 3.8% to 3.4%. The 
Company’s debt is at an all-time low: Net debt/EBITDA decreased to 0.25x by the 
end of 2018. Growth of free cash flow and low debt enabled the Company to keep 
dividends high despite the growth in capex.”

For additional information, please see press release on 2018FY and NLMK 

*  without NBH

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Group's five-year highlights on the web-site.

Operating  
performance

 $ Steel output³ increased by 2% yoy 
to 17.5 million tonnes, mainly due to 
outstripping output growth at NLMK 
Russia Long (+9% yoy). Steel output at 
NLMK Russia Flat increased by 1% yoy 
to 13.3 million tonnes. The Group's 
steelmaking capacity utilization rate 
increased by 1 p.p. to 99%4.
 $ Sales¹ grew by 7% yoy to 
17.6 million tonnes, driven by increased 
demand for semi-finished products, and 
higher long product sales in Russia.
 $ Sales breakdown: finished product 
sales were flat yoy at 10.8 million 
tonnes. HVA sales grew by 3% yoy to 
5 million tonnes. The share of HVA in 
total sales dropped by 1 p.p. to 29%, 
due to the outstripping growth of semi-
finished product sales amid intensified 
demand for slabs and pig iron, and 
planned equipment upgrades at the 
NLMK Lipetsk hot-rolling operations. 
 $ Sales by region: Sales in Russia 
declined by 4% yoy (to 5.8 million tonnes) 
due to sales being redirected to export 
markets. Sales in Europe and the US 
grew by 16% and 10%, respectively. Sales 
to the Middle East (including Turkey) 
increased by 7% yoy. The highest growth 
rates were achieved in the Asian and 
Oceanian markets (+ 89% yoy) due to 
an increase in slab sales to Taiwan 
and Indonesia.

Sales to home markets decreased 
to 10.56 million tonnes (-1% yoy) due to 
sales being redirected to semi-finished 
product exports driven by intensified 
demand in Q4 2018. The Group’s share 
of sales on its home markets totalled 
61% (-4 p.p. yoy). 

Sales to external markets were up 
17% yoy to 6.86 million tonnes, driven by 
higher slab and pig iron sales.

¹  Consolidated sales are given without NBH

²  Strategy gains are presented with NBH

³ 

 Without production capacities that are 
undergoing planned	maintenance

4  Steel output with NBH

58

59

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsFinancial 
performance

Revenue

Revenue increased to $12 billion 
(+20% yoy) due to higher average 
sales prices.

Revenue share from sales of finished 

steel declined yoy to 65% (-2 p.p. yoy).

Revenue share (including NBH) from 

sales in home markets decreased by 
3 p.p. yoy to 66%, against the backdrop 
of growing exports of semi-finished 
products.

Operating profit

Operating profit  increased by 48% yoy 
to $3 billion, due to the growth in sales 
volumes, the expansion of price spreads, 
and operational efficiency programme 
gains.

Net profit

Growth of net profit by 54% yoy in 
12M 2018 was due to the growth of 
operating profit and a decrease in the 
effective income tax rate due to the 
recognition in Q4 2018 of tax losses 
incurred earlier by NLMK USA.

the introduction of import duties on 
steel

 $ +$177 m: increase in payables 
as a result of rising prices for 
raw materials and the growth of 
externally sourced slab purchases 
by NLMK USA.

Investment

The Group's investments climbed by 15% 
to $680 million in 2018, with the launch 
of projects as part of the new strategic 
cycle, and the start of BF-6 upgrades and 
major repairs of steelmaking equipment 
at NLMK Lipetsk. 

Dividends

During 2018, the amount of dividend 
payments amounted to $1,888 million.

The Board of Directors recommended 
the shareholders to approve the Q4 2018 
dividends of RUB 5.80 per share. Taking 
into account declared dividends for 
Q1-Q3, 12M 2018 accrued dividends 
could total RUB 22.81 per share, which 
is equivalent to 102% of NLMK Group’s 
2018 free cash flow.

Free cash flow

Debt leverage

Free cash flow increased by 60% yoy 
to $2 billion, supported by growing 
EBITDA and decreasing cash outflow 
to finance working capital as compared 
to 2017.

The 44% yoy increase in operating 
cash flow to $2.7 billion was driven by 
increased sales profitability.

Cash outflow to finance working 
capital was $261 million (vs. $380 million 
a year earlier): 
 $ -$258 m: increase in receivables due 
to an increase in export sales and an 
increase in average sales prices 
 $ -$187 m: increase in stocks due 
to the increase in raw material 
and semi-finished product prices, 
including the rising cost of slabs in 
NLMK USA warehouses following 

Total debt decreased by 9% yoy to 
$2.1 billion, due to the closing of a credit 
line for working capital financing in 
Q2 2018. 

Net debt decreased by 3% yoy to 
$891 million due to reduced total debt. 
Net debt/EBITDA improved to 0.25х 
(vs. 0.35х last year), driven by increased 
profit from core activities.

Financial guarantees for NBH 

liabilities totalled $309 million 
($304 million at 2017 year-end).

Decrease in financial expenses by 
20% yoy to $70 million was associated 
with the reduction in the average interest 
rate (from 3.8% in 2017 to 3.4% in 2018), 
and an overall reduction in debt.

* 

 Operating profit before equity share in results of joint ventures,  
impairment	of	capital	assets	and	losses from	fixed	assets	retirement.

Segmental  
performance

NLMK Russia Flat
EBITDA increased by 36% yoy to 
$2.3 billion, due to the expansion 
of price spreads between steel and 
primary raw materials, as well as 
operational efficiency programme gains. 
The decrease in the ruble FX rate also 
supported the Segment's profitability 
amid growing export sales. These factors 
supported an EBITDA margin increase 
by 5 p.p. yoy to 27%.

NLMK Russia Long
EBITDA increased by 45% yoy to 
$221 million. EBITDA margin climbed 
by 2 p.p. to 10%. EBITDA grew at a 
higher rate than the revenue due to 
operational efficiency gains, expansion 
of the price spreads and the change in 
exchange rates against the backdrop 
of increased exports. 

Mining and Processing  
of Raw Materials
EBITDA increased by 38% yoy to 
$0.89 billion, with the completion of 
a number of capex projects, as well as 
due to the increase in productivity. 

NLMK USA
EBITDA grew by 28% yoy to 
$0.25 billion, mainly due to the growth 
in revenue. EBITDA margin remained 
flat yoy at 12%: revenue growth was 
offset by the growth of import duty 
related costs.

NLMK DanSteel and plate 
distribution network
EBITDA fell to (-) $17 million  
(vs. (+) $2 million last year), due to the 
narrowing of price spread between slabs 
and plate, against the backdrop of the 
outstripping growth of slab prices.

JV performance (NBH)
NBH EBITDA decreased to 
(-) $87 million, due to the narrowing 
of price spreads between rolled steel 
and slabs, against the backdrop of 
a spike in slab prices in 2018.

Sustainability  
performance

Occupational  
safety

Our team and  
local communities

The average headcount in 2018 
increased by 0.1%, which is associated 
with the implementation of Investment 
Programme 2022, aimed at steel 
output increase. 

An important achievement in 2018 
was the implementation of a large-scale 
position grading project for white-
collar employees and managers, which 
will help determine the pay based on 
employees’ competencies and position 
grade as early as in 2019. This project 
will enable a unified approach and 
establish transparent mechanisms for 
determining pay.

NLMK also continues to actively 
develop in-house employee training. 
For example, in 2018, more than 
6,000 employees were trained in NLMK 
Corporate University’s programmes. 
Within social policy expansion 
initiative in 2018, the Group developed 
an NLMK Employee Health programme, 
aimed at improving working conditions, 
promoting healthy lifestyle, and at 
improving the quality and accessibility 
of health services for NLMK Group 
employees.

In the reporting period, NLMK also 
reviewed its approach to the Steel Tree 
grant competition, which supports 
environmental initiatives of employees, 
including projects in social areas, in 
particular in the health sector. Starting 
from 2018, the ‘Steel Tree’ environmental 
programme has become open not 
only to NLMK employees but also to 
local residents in the regions where 
the Company operates.

With a view to reduce injury rates and 
prevent accidents at NLMK facilities in 
2018, the Company went to considerable 
lengths in managing occupational risks. 
Thanks to the initiatives implemented in 
the reporting year and prior periods, the 
2018 LTIFR injury rate for NLMK Group 
employees and contractors decreased to 
0.77 (31% lower than in 2017).

Minimizing  
environmental  
footprint

NLMK Group follows an integrated 
approach to managing environmental 
footprint and environmental safety. 
In 2018, a number of initiatives were 
implemented enabling the following 
performance:
 $ Water withdrawal for industrial 

water supply reduced by 884,000 m3

 $ Total air emissions fell  

by 2,200 tonnes

 $ Better than the industry average 

performance in specific greenhouse 
gas emissions

 $ Total waste generated fell by 13% 
 $ Reclamation of more than 

22 hectares of Stagdok completed

Energy efficiency  
improvement

In 2018, the Company continued 
implementation of energy-efficiency 
improvement initiatives at the Group's 
facilities. In total, RUB 509 million in 
savings were achieved by implementing 
optimization measures over the course 
of 2018. The Company also continued to 
actively develop its captive generation 
capacities: NLMK Group’s total 
installed generating capacity in the 
reporting period was 722 MW. More 
than half of the electricity consumed 
at the Lipetsk site and 100% of the 
electricity consumed at Altai-Koks is 
generated using NLMK Group’s own 
resources.

Promoting responsible 
business practices

In 2018, the majority of NLMK's Board 
members were independent directors 
(5 out of 9 members of the Board 
of Directors), which demonstrates 
the Company's commitment to best 
practices in corporate governance and 
contributes to the adoption of balanced 
and constructive decisions by the Board 
of Directors in the long-term interests of 
the Company. 

In addition, in 2018, the possibility 
of electronic voting was implemented 
at the General Shareholders’ Meeting. 
The use of the electronic voting 
service as an effective way to ensure 
the rights of shareholders to manage 
the Company and participate in 
the General Shareholders’ Meeting 
has increased the total number of 
shareholders who participated in 
the voting.

In 2018, as part of improving its risk 

management system, NLMK Group 
implemented a risk management 
approach for innovative projects and 
developed a methodology for assessing 
cybersecurity risks.

In 2018, the Company also adopted 
the revised versions of NLMK Group's 
Corporate Ethics Code and Anti-
Corruption Policy.

Another important event was 

the approval of NLMK Group’s Human 
Rights Policy. The goal of the Policy is to 
ensure that human rights are observed in 
Group activities everywhere we operate. 

60

61

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsFinancial performance, $ m

Revenue 

Net profit*

EBITDA

EBITDA margin

Operating cash flow

Investment

Net debt 

Free cash flow 

2014

10,396

773

2,381

23%

1,806

563

1,666

1,153

2015

8,008

967

1,943

24%

1,622

595

1,161

992

2016

7,636

935

1,943

25%

1,699

559

761

2017

2018

10,065

12,046

1,450

2,655

26%

1,899

592

923

2,238

3,589

30%

2,741

680

891

1,092

1,266

2,027

Dividends, $ per share

0.0507

0.1076

0.1535

0.2384

-

Operating performance, ‘000 t

 2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Steel output (without NBH)

Steel output (with NBH)

15,921

15,866

16,438

16,850

17,285

16,108

16,060

16,641

17,076

17,493

Steel product sales (without NBH)

15,147

15,829

15,925

16,469

17,591

Finished steel sales 

Sales to home markets

10,223

9,793

10,211

10,759

10,762

10,605

10,140

10,225

10,650

10,573

Sustainability performance

 2014

2015

2016

NLMK	Group	headcount,	'000	people

Labour productivity, t of steel /pers., NLMK Lipetsk

LTIFR, NLMK Group employees

LTIFR , NLMK Group employees + contractors

Specific air emissions, kg/t of steel

*  Net profit attributable to NLMK shareholders. 

60.1

437

1.55

1.6

20.1

56.7

463

1.12

1.15

20.1

54

482

0.82

0.85

20.0

2017

53.2

502

0.97

1.12

19.5

2018

53.3

503

0.69

0.77

18.9

Five-year  
highlights

62

63

NLMKANNUAL REPORT I 2018ABOUT NLMK 2018 highlightsPresident’s  StatementAbout the ReportCompany profileStrategy and business  reviewSustainability  management2018 performance  reviewFive-year highlightsAbout NLMK  I  2018

 ▶ This brochure gives an 
overview of the structure, 
business model, strategy and 
performance of the Group 
over the past five years.

The world is changing rapidly. Today, NLMK Group  
together with other global companies determines  
the future of steelmaking. In many aspects, 2018 was  
a year of achievements for NLMK Group.

Grigory Fedorishin
President of NLMK Group

Governance  I  2018

 ▶ This brochure aims to 
showcase NLMK Group's 
corporate governance and 
risk management practices.

In its activities, NLMK Group adheres to best  
international practices and the highest standards  
of corporate governance.

Stanislav Shekshnia 
Independent director,  
member of NLMK Group's Board of Directors

Our team  I  2018

 ▶ Detailed information on 
interaction with NLMK Group's  
stakeholders, talent 
development, occupational 
safety policy, and financial 
contribution to the development 
of local communities, 
and much more.

We are proud of what we have achieved and fully 
recognize that our achievements were made possible 
thanks to the contribution of our entire team, united 
by the common goal of leadership for NLMK Group.

Grigory Fedorishin
President of NLMK Group

Environment  I  2018

 ▶ In this brochure we 
talk about how advanced 
technologies, efficient 
processes and environmentally 
friendly approaches ensure 
our leadership as an 
environmentally-oriented 
company.

Our firm belief is that, if we want to grow sustainably  
and if we look at the same sustainability of the company, 
competitive shareholder returns simply are not enough.  
In 2018 we disclosed our CO2 emissions data.

Marjan Oudeman
Independent director,  
member of NLMK Group's Board of Directors

nlmk.com

 ▶ We have developed a dedicated section on the Company website at www.nlmk.com  
to enable investors to review environmental and social questions, as well as corporate governance 
(Environmental, Social, Governance) when they are considering investment.