Update 1-Russia Mechel Q2 coking coal output 1.2 mln/t

* Mechel (MTL.N) Q2 coking coal output up 19 pct vs Q1

* H1 coking coal output down 73 pct vs yr-earlier period

* Co has "positive outlook" for H2, wants to tap new markets

(adds company comment, details)

MOSCOW, July 15 (Reuters) - Russia's Mechel said on Wednesday that second quarter coking coal production reached 1.2 million tonnes, up 19 percent from the first quarter, but first half output was off sharply from a year ago on weak demand.

First half coking coal production totalled 2.3 million tonnes, 73 percent less than the figure Mechel published last July.

First half steel output reached 2.5 million tonnes, 18 percent below the figure published last year.

The company did not provide year-earlier comparison's in Wednesday's press release.