Coking coal production reached 3.74 million tonnes, 109% higher than the June quarter, while thermal coal output remained roughly the same at 1.7Mt.

Also a producer of ferroalloys and other steelmaking ingredients such as iron ore, nickel and chromium, Mechel senior vice-president Vladimir Polin said nearly all the subsidiaries reached pre-crisis levels for their output volumes.

“Utilisation of capacities of our mining division currently increased to 75-80 per cent of the pre-crisis level, surpassing our forecast made in July,” he said.

“With growth in Mechel’s export activity, including successful continuation of partnership with our Asia-Pacific customers who made contracts with us in the first half of the year, all our mining plants currently have enough orders.”

He said several facilities at the Southern Kuzbass Coal Company subsidiary achieved record monthly production results in September.

“We also enjoyed good performance of our North American coking coal mining subsidiary, Mechel Bluestone.”

In a good sign of steel demand, Polin said capacity utilisation at most of Mechel’s steel plants almost reached 100% of pre-crisis levels.