The imports of finished carbon steel shot up by a whopping 66.9 per cent during the April-December 2007-08 despite its production rising 6.6 per cent during the period year-on-year.

Finished carbon steel production touched 38.05 million tons during the first nine months of 2007-08 compared to 35.704 million tons during the same period in 2006-07, according to an official release.

Imports of finished carbon steel during April-December 2007 went up by 66.9 per cent to 4.9 million tons this year from 2.94 million tons last year. During the same period, exports surged by 9.1 per cent to 3.85 million tons from 3.529 million tons in th e previous year, it added. – PTI