Mittal Steel Ostrava posts strong output

Czech steelmaker Mittal Steel Ostrava (MSO) produced 795,000 metric tons of steel in the first quarter of 2006. This is the highest level recorded in the last six quarters, said the MSO spokeswoman Jana Dronska. “We expect the next three quarters to be as successful as the first quarter of 2006 thanks to boom in the Czech construction sector. We forecast MSO to exceed an expected annual plan of 3.1 million metric tons of steel” said Dronska. Mittal Steel Holdings N.V. controls 70.67 percent of Mittal Steel Ostrava, the Czech National Property Fund has 13.88 percent, the state bail-out agency CKA has almost 11 percent and small shareholders hold under 5 percent.