SAIL to focus on special steel

Steel Authority of India (SAIL) has re-oriented production and marketing strategies to cater to surging demand from key segments like infrastructure and projects, housing, auto components and the white goods sector.

"We are pro-active and in touch with customers, and planning our strategies accordingly. We expect steel demand in the country to grow by 8-10% next year,'' S K Roonga, director (commercial) of SAIL, said today.

Auto components is a key sector identified by SAIL that is expected to generate huge demand. The company has initiated talks with auto component manufacturing association for future requirements, he said.

Stating that there was a distinct shift in demand for value-added products, he said SAIL has supplied 40% more special steel in the last nine months when compared with the same period last year. SAIL's present share in the segment was around 15-20%, and the company is aiming at increasing it to 30%.