Ukraine’s largest steelmaker Metinvest (METINV) won
two tenders and signed contracts for supplies of rails and rail joints to
Ukrzaliznytsia (RAILUA), according to the May 23 disclosure in the ProZorro
e-procurement system. The company will provide 52.5 kt of rails at a price of
USD 928/t and 4.8 kt of rail joints at a price of USD 1,073/t for a total of
USD 53.9 mln of revenue, according to our analysis of the contracts. The
products must be supplied by the end of 2018.
Recall, in November 2017 Metinvest won a tender to supply 26
kt of rails at a price of USD 814/t.
Dmytro Khoroshun: Domestic rail sales reap high margins, and therefore are positive for
Metinvest’s profit and cash flows. The 14% increase in rail prices from
November 2017 demonstrates that Metinvest continues to wield substantial
pricing power at Ukrzaliznytsia tenders. Ukrzaliznytsia’s annual rail
consumption volumes might reach 100-150 kt if its railway modernization and
capital repair programs are fully implemented.