STEEL PRODUCTION SHOWS GROWTH

---

The total production of finished steel from April to August, 2002 has been provisionally estimated at 12.90 million tonnes as against the production of 12 million tonnes during the same period last year, showing an increase of 7.4 per cent The total production of pig iron during the period has been 1.96 million tonnes as against the production of 1.55 million tones during the same period last year showing a growth of 26.7 per cent. The export of steel during these 5 months has been estimated at 12.50 lakh tonnes showing a marginal growth.

The apparent consumption of finished steel items till August 2002 is 11.40 million tonnes, which is higher by 10.1 per cent over the same period last year. Similarly the consumption of pig iron upto August is also up by 26 per cent than the same period last year.