Essar Steel Algoma Reports Highest Shipments in 2 Years

Essar Steel Algoma reported a net loss of 28.7 million for the first quarter of its fiscal year 2014 ending on June 30, 2013, an improvement over its net loss of 92.7 million at the end of the fourth quarter in March.

Sales of $464 million showed an improvement of 4 percent over the previous quarter. Shipments rose by 5 percent to 672,000 tons.

“Shipments of 672,000 tons for the quarter represent the highest volume shipped in the last eight quarters,” said Chief Executive Officer Kalyan Ghosh. “Despite this increase in volume and reduced input costs, these improvements were not sufficient to return us to profitability due to lower steel prices. Fortunately prices have begun to rebound since reaching a two year low in June, and we expect to see an improvement in operating profitability next quarter.”