STEEL SECTOR SHOWS GROWTH

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The total production of finished steel from April-October 2003 has been provisionally estimated at 199.25 lakh tonnes as against 186.55 lakh tonnes during the corresponding period last year, showing an increase of 6.8 per cent. The total production of pig iron during this period has been estimated at 31.16 lakh tonnes against 30.06 lakh tonnes during the same period last year with a growth of 3.6 per cent.

The apparent consumption of finished steel items during these seven months is 166.5 lakh tonnes, higher by 3.3 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year. The consumption of pig iron during this period was also higher and reached 28.2 lakh tonnes as compared to 26.24 lakh tonnes in the same period of 2002-03. Export of steel during April-October, 03 has been estimated at 31 lakh tonnes showing an increase of 38.9 per cent than the same period last year.