Mechel PAO's Chief Executive Officer Oleg Korzhov commented on operational results.

"In 3Q2020, the coal market began gradual recovery after the first wave of the coronavirus epidemic, which had key importer states introduce various limitations while our customers among steelmaking corporations temporarily halted their facilities and corrected their annual plans for steel output. Mechel's subsidiaries have mined a total of 4.3 million tonnes of coal in this accounting period, with the 7-percent slump due to a planned decrease in mining caused by a face transfer at V.I. Lenina Underground Mine and major overhauls at our washing plants. At the same time, over 9M2020 our company demonstrated positive dynamics in sales of all our coal products.

"The overall decrease of coking coal concentrate by 12% was due to a slump in shipments to the domestic market and redirecting our volumes to the more profitable Asian markets. In 3Q2020 sales of coking coal concentrate to Asia Pacific went up by 11% quarter-on-quarter.

"In this accounting period we have shipped off a jubilee three-millionth tonne of rolls from the universal rolling mill - it consisted of 100-meter rails for Russian Railways. The mill's product range continues to actively expand with production of 80 new profile sizes mastered, including many profile types never before produced in Russia.

"The third quarter saw a revival of business activities both in Russia and abroad, which had its positive impact on demand and steel sales. Overall, sales of long rolls remained on the previous quarter's level as sales of construction products made at the universal rolling mill went up by 28% and stainless long rolls by 13%. Sales of rolled flats demonstrated similar figures. The overall level of sales did not change quarter on quarter, but sales of high-margin stainless products went up by 4%. It is important to note that as a result of 9M2020 we managed to gain profit from sales of rolled longs and flats despite tough limitations caused by COVID-19, that were imposed in the end of 1Q2020 and throughout the second quarter.

"The decrease in ferrosilicon output and sales by 13% quarter on quarter was due to ongoing equipment repairs at Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant.