Tata Steel 9-month output up

Tata Steel has completed the first nine months of the financial year with an all-round increase in hot metal, crude steel production and sales volumes.

Hot metal production was at 4.11 million and crude steel production at 3.7 million tonne were both higher than the corresponding period of last year.

Saleable steel production at 3.66 million tonne registered a significant increase of 11 per cent The total sales recorded 3.532 million tonne, an increase of 11.70 per cent.

The domestic sale of long products has increased by 30 per cent .The sale of "Tata Tiscon" has increased by 50 per cent and the market share in the rebar segment has increased to nine per cent compared to the corresponding period last financial year.

The cumulative volume of Tata Shaktee sold since its brand launch is expected to reach one million Tonne in March 2007.

Tata Steel is also gearing up to play a major role in the automotive boom.

The domestic automotive market is expected to see a growth of 17- 18 per cent in the current financial year and Tata Steel is set to take the advantage of this boom.

Tata Steel's market share in the domestic automotive segment is expected to be 43 per cent in FY07 as against 41per cent in FY06.

In terms of volume, this would translate to increase in sales to approximately 0.85 million tonne as against 0.67 million tonne in FY06, a growth of 29 per cent.