For the first time in its history, Tata Steel has crossed a million tonne of saleable steel production in the first quarter i.e. the quarter ending on June 30, 2004. The saleable steel production was 1.02 million tonnes, a 3 per cent jump over the corresponding period last year. Production of hot metal and crude steel was also higher by 4 per cent and 1 per cent respectively as compared to the first quarter of last year.

The record production has been achieved in spite of a power problem in the steel works on June 26, 2004. A circuit breaker of a captive power plant failed and resulted in outage of power in the entire plant. The power supply was restored in a short time, with no personal injury or damage to any capital equipment. The steel works is running at full capacity. As in the past, the company expects to meet the annual production targets.

These record production figures were fully supported by domestic sales and exports. The initiative to enrich the product mix of Tata Steel continues to provide excellent results. The supply of cold rolled and galvanised sheets to original equipment manufacturers, in the automobiles and white goods has increased by 41 per cent and 23 per cent respectively as compared to the first quarter of the previous year. The sale of branded products, Tata Shakti (corrugated galvanised sheets) and Tata Steelium (cold rolled sheets) witnessed an increase in sales of 31 per cent and 26 per cent respectively as compared to the first quarter of the last financial year.