SSPU JSC (Kazakhstan) reported on March results and first quarter of 2005

/IRBIS, Natalya Kouznetsova, April 5, 05/ - Sokolovskoe -Sarbayskoe production unit" (SSPU JSC, Roudnyi, Kostanai oblast.) with shares included in official securities list of Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) relased the announcement saying that in March of the current year the Company boosted the ore and marketable commodity production compared to corresponding period of the last year. The announcement states that in March of the current year miners produced and refined cured metal ore for a total of 3,074 th tons which is 3.7 pct up from previous year's same period result. Beginning from the year, the Company led out 9,095 th tons from its sites (11.4% up from 2004 first quarter result), over 9.0 m tons were processed (11.3 percent increase). Beginning from the year-start the Unit produced 3.8 m tons of marketable ironore products including fluxed pellets 2.3 m tons, 9.8% percent up from similar period of 2004. The production of marketable ore totaled 1,262 th tons or 100.2% quarter-on-quarter. Delivery of finished produce to customers for the last three months totaled 3,093 th tons (3.5 % increase). In March 1,256 th tons were shipped to customers (4.1% to similar period of 2004). Main customers of SSPU's output include Magnitogorsk metallurgical plant OJSC, Tchelyabinck metallurgical plant OJSC (Russia), Kazakhstan-based Mittal Steel Temirtau JSC as well as Chinese operators. [2005-04-05]