STEEL PRODUCTION UP 7.1 PER CENT

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The total production of finished steel in April-July 2003 has been provisonally estimated at 112.75 lakh tonnes as against 105.26 lakh tonnes during the corresponding period last year showing an increase of 7.1 per cent. The total pig iron production in the country during the period has been 18.1 lakh tonnes as against 17.67 lakh tonnes during the same period last year with an increase of 2.4 per cent. During July 2003 both SAIL and Rastriya Ispat Nigam (RINL) Limited have registered an encouraging growth.

The export of steel during these four months has been estimated at 14.50 lakh tonnes showing an increase of 34.5 per cent as compared to corresponding period last year. The demand for Indian steel items in China and USA continues to be firm.