The company produced 3.4 million tonnes of coal during the quarter, down 52.9% on the 2008 March quarter.

Coking coal output slumped 76%, while thermal coal output was reduced by only 19%.

“Negative trends caused by the global economic crisis have affected Mechel’s operational results in Q1 2009,” Mechel senior vice-president Vladimir Polin said.

“At our coal mining operations we changed mining plans in favour of increased production of steam coal as demand for this product was stable. This allowed us to more than double the output of steam coal concentrate.”