Tata Steel reports increase in production in Q1

Tata Steel, Indian biggest private owned steelmaker, reported a significant increase in its production in the first quarter of fiscal year 2006-2007. The company's output of hot metal rose 8.2 percent and that of crude steel rose 9.4 percent year on year to 1.31 million tons and 1.21 million tons respectively in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2006-2007. The saleable steel production rose 17 percent to 1.11 million tons during the same period. The sales in the first quarter indicated increase of 28 percent to 1.12 million tons compare to the same period of last year. The sales to the auto sector showed an increase of 32 percent to 190,000 tons, while sales of branded rebar, Tata Tiscon, recorded increase of 42 percent during the given period.