Tata steel reports 31 per cent increase in April sales

Tata steel, the country's major steel producer, said its sales increased 31 per cent to 4.52 lakh tonnes in April. The surge came from increased demand from auto and construction sectors the company said.

The corresponding figures for the month last year stood at 3.43 lakh tonnes according to a statement released by the company.

During April this year the saleable steel production surged 30 per cent to 5.16 lakh tonnes as against 3.96 lac tonnes.

Sale of long products used mainly in the construction sector increased 39 per cent while flat item sales increased by 27 per cent. Flat items are mainly used in the auto and consumer durables sectors.

The company's crude steel output also surged by 22 per cent to 5.03 lac tonnes from 4.12 lakh whilc hot metal production increased by 30 per cent to 5.79 lac tonnes from 4.45 lac tonnes.

According to the company, two melting shops at Jamshedupr works registered 2.02 lakh tonnes and 2.66 lac tonnes output, the best-ever production in April.

The company's merchant mill, hot strip mill and cold-rolling mill also notched impressive growth over April 2008.

In financial year 2008-09, the steel major reported 14 per cent increase in production of hot metal at 6.25 million tonnes while the year-ago fiscal, the production had been 5.5 million tonnes.

Tata Steel shares rose 3.5 per cent at Rs280 on the BSE in afternoon trade.

According to a company spokesman the company has raised prices of long products by Rs500 rupees a tonne from 1 May, on strong market conditions.