India claimed the fifth spot in terms of largest producer of crude steel during January-June this year, according to World Steel Association (WSA).

The information was shared by A Sai Prathap, Minister of State in the Ministry of Steel.
China claimed the first spot with 323 million ton (MT) production during the same period, followed by Japan (54.6 MT), USA (41 MT) and Russia (32.5 MT). India with its production of 32.5 MT claimed the fifth spot.

As per the latest estimates, Prathap said, the crude steel capacity in the country is likely to reach 120 MT by 2012 from 72.9 MT in the 2009-10. In today’s de-regulated, open market economy, he said, the role of Government is that of a facilitator and in that capacity, it promotes/encourages growth of steel industry through suitable policy measures. “Both the public sector Steel companies namely Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) are in the process of expanding their crude steel capacities,” he said. SAIL envisages increasing its crude steel production from existing 12.84 MT to 21.40 MT per annum in Phase-I to be completed by 2012-13 at an approximate estimated cost of Rs70,000 crore including cost of mine development.

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