Russian steel and coal major Mechel saw its tax burden finally decline thanks to high steel and coal prices after years of verging on the brink of insolvency, Vedomosti reported on August 24.

Mechel built up massive debts and nearly went bankrupt three years ago after miscalculating the costs of developing the huge Elginsky coal deposit. It has been in constant debt restructuring talks with its largest creditors, which include state-owned VTB and Sberbank. However, the rise in prices seems to have solved the worst of its troubles. 

In April-June, Mechel increased its coal output fourfold after the price skyrocketed to $300 per tonne in the wake of the tropical storm Debby, which hit the Australian coast.

As a result, the mill's Ebitda was up 1.6 times y/y to RUB40.2bn (€577mn) in January-June, the lion's share of which, RUB34.6bn, came from the coal division.

Thanks to the Ebitda growth, Mechel's tax burden is now the lowest since 2012, as the company's net debt has declined by 1.6% to RUB426bn since the beginning of the year and 75% of Mechel's outstanding debts have been restructured. The company is also in the process of restructuring a syndicated loan.

According to the company's report, the market was volatile in January-June.

A coking coal price of between $160 and $170 per tonne would be comfortable for Mechel against the backdrop of growing demand from Asia, Vedomosti reported.

Of Mechel's coal sales, 63% account for Asia, 22% for Russia and 11% for Europe.

Steel products accounts only for 15% in the company's Ebitda.

Mechel IFRS results
	1Q16	2Q16	3Q16	4Q16	1Q17	2Q17	Q/Q	Y/Y
Revenue, $ mn	835	1 033	1 024	1 264	1 319	1 257	-5%	22%
Adjusted EBITDA, $ mn	134	239	245	390	389	304	-22%	27%
Adjusted EBITDA margin	16%	23%	24%	31%	29%	24%	- 5ppts	1ppts
Net income, $ mn	4	121	-43	25	237	-156	-	-
Net margin	1%	12%	-4%	2%	18%	-12%	-	-
Source: Mechel, BCS

 

Mechel 2Q17 Trading Update
	2Q16	3Q16	4Q16	1Q17	2Q17	Q/Q	Y/Y
Total raw coal, 000 t	5 864	5 559	5 596	5 074	5 257	4%	-10%
Coking coal concentrate, 000 t	2 249	2 021	2 172	1 996	2 076	4%	-8%
PCI, 000 t	413	383	303	341	341	0%	-17%
Antracite, 000 t	488	457	406	448	362	-19%	-26%
Steam coal, 000 t	1 863	1 788	1 663	1 589	1 576	-1%	-15%
Iron ore, 000 t	658	736	666	652	749	15%	14%
Steel, 000 t	1 067	1 019	1 125	1 121	1 096	-2%	3%
Steel products, 000 t	1 137	1 070	1 070	1 050	1 125	7%	-1%
Ferrosilicon, 000 t	18	20	20	14	17	21%	-6%
Electric power, mn kWh	751	759	904	932	746	-20%	-1%
Source: Mechel, BCS