The Russian steel producer Severstal has announced that its steel plant in Cherepovets increased its shipbuilding plate shipments to 100,000 metric tons in 2006.
The plant's sales director Mr. Dmitry Goroshkov emphasized that the shipbuilding industry was becoming one of the primary sales sectors for the Cherepovets plant.
Mr. Goroshkov has also hinted that in the event of a large project development or order from Severstal's partners, the plant would be ready to extend the range of its production. "For example, today we finished the reconstruction of a cross cutting mill and we will start proposing to shipbuilders plates of 16mm in thickness, obtained by cutting from the coils, in the middle of the year. The production of this form of products will make it possible to reduce our prime cost, and therefore make it more attractive for the shipbuilders", said Mr. Goroshkov.