March 13, 2002

    During January 2002, the Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) has reversed its declining trend with a growth of 6.6 per cent over the same month of the previous year. It is estimated that the public sector undertaking has produced 7.067 lakh tonnes of finished steel in January 2002 against 6.631 lakh tonnes during January 2001. Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) during the month has produced 2.134 lakh tonnes of finished steel as against 1.731 lakh tonnes during the same month last year showing a growth of 23.3 per cent. Rourkela Steel Plant has shown a growth of 7.1 per cent producing 1.263 lakh tonnes of finished steel. Indian Iron & Steel Company (IISCO) has shown a growth of 14 per cent by producing 26 thousand tonnes of finished steel during the month against 22.8 thousand tonnes during the same month last year. However, the production of Durgapur Steel Plant and Bokaro Steel Plant has shown slightly negative growth during January 2002.