Demand of steel to be 10 per cent in 2007-8: Tata Steel Dy Dir

Kolkata, Jan 12 (UNI) The demand for saleable steel, both flat and long products, will rise at the rate of 10 per cent in 2007-08, Tata Steel Deputy Managing Director T Mukherjee said here today.

Speaking in reference to Sajjan Jindal's steel project in Salboni at West Midnapore, which was delayed due to opposition of Jharkhand government, in connection with iron ore supply, he said, ''The target of Indian companies is to increase products to compete global players. So the competition is not between states but India vs global players.'' Replying to a question, Mr Mukherjee said, ''The gap between steel production and exports in India is huge as the domestic demand is high. However, the domestic demand should rise with the boom in urbanisation.'' Speaking about Tata Steel's production, he said the company's production in 2006-07 was five million tonnes. ''We will increase our production capacity would reach seven million tonnes by 2007-08,'' he added.

UNI