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The total production of finished steel during April-December 2004 has been provisionally estimated to be about 283.00 lakh tonnes as against the production of 272.62 lakh tonnes during the same period last year showing an increase of 3.8 per cent. The apparent consumption of finished steel during April-December, 2004 was 249.00 lakh tonnes which is higher by 5.7 per cent as compared to 235.60 lakh tonnes for the corresponding period last year. The total production of pig iron during April-December 2004 has been estimated to 21.00 lakh tonnes as against the production of 29.38 lakh tonnes during the same period last year showing a decrease of 28.5 per cent. Similarly, the consumption of pig iron during April-December 2004 was 19.30 lakh tonnes, which is lower by 23.4 per cent as compared to 25.20 lakh tonnes during the corresponding period last year.
During the month of December 2004 the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has achieved a production of 1201, 1126 and 1021 thousand tonnes of hot metal, crude steel and saleable steel respectively representing 100 per cent, 103 per cent and 100 per cent of respective targets.
The export of steel during April-December 2004 had been estimated to be 28.25 lakh tonnes showing a decrease of 24.85 per cent as compared to the corresponding period last year. The downward pressure exports is likely to continue during the remaining part of the year due to increase in domestic demand and reduction of DEPB benefits on account of reduction of customs duty.
BJ/CS
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