SAIL's July production up 3% to 1.08 MT

Company had produced 3.2 MT steel in the first three months of the current fiscal, its total output during April-July stood at 4.28 MT

State-run SAIL India today clocked a three% rise in July steel production at 1.08 million tonnes (MT) over the same month last year.

"SAIL registered a positive growth in steel production for the month of July, 2013...Production of saleable steel at 1.08 MT during the month was up by 3%," the state-run firm said in a statement.

The company had produced 3.2 MT steel in the first three months of the current fiscal and with the 1.08 MT production, its total output during April-July stood at 4.28 MT.

In June also, SAIL's production was 1.08 MT.

Production efficiency, it said, also got a boost with energy consumption getting lower by 1% and blast furnace productivity improving by two%. SAIL attributed this to its "renewed focus on controlling internal costs".

"SAIL's modernisation and expansion programme continues to be implemented on high priority. Cumulative orders worth Rs 58,579 crore were placed and an expenditure of Rs 46,064 crore incurred until June, 2013," it said.

It has embarked on a capacity expansion programme to take its steel-making capacity to 24 mtpa from 14 mtpa now.