JSW Steel's crude steel output drops 11% in April

JSW had shut two of its blast furnaces in Vijayangar, Salem units in April this year due to shortage of iron ore

JSW Steel Limited has recorded 11% decline in crude steel production at 637,000 tonnes during April 2013 as against 715,000 tonnes produced in the corresponding period last year.

The production of rolled products (flat) has declined 13% to 455,000 tonnes compared to 525,000 tonnes in April last year. The company has produced 128,000 tonnes of rolled products (long) during the month of April, which is a decline of 17% over the same month last year. It had produced 155,000 tonnes in April 2012.

"The availability of quality iron ore in sufficient quantities remained a challenge, impacting the production and capacity utilisation. One of the blast furnaces at Vijayanagar works was under annual shutdown for 22 days and resumed operations on April 26, 2013 and therefore the capacity utilisation was lower at about 73%," the company said in a statement.

Similarly, one of the blast furnaces at Salem unit was also under shutdown during April 2013, which resumed production on May 6, 2013. Consequently, the production was lower during April 2013, the statement added.