The company expected to raise its revenue this year if oil prices, material costs and the domestic political situations make a turn for the better in the fourth quarter, said president Win Viriyaprapaikij.

In the first half of the year, the company had total sales of Bt17.3 billion, down from Bt19.2 billion in the same period last year.

Over the same period, its net profit was Bt1.59 billion, up 3 per cent from Bt1.55 billion last year, because the company had extraordinary profits from non-operational sources.

Wina said that although demand in the domestic market had decreased slightly, demand in the export sector had continued to rise.

According to research by International Iron and Steel Institute conducted in April, demand in the global market will grow 7.3 per cent this year and 5.8 per cent next year.

With the demand in global market growth, the company aims to export 20 per cent of its total production capacity, up 2 per cent from last year.

In the first half of the year,

the company recorded exports

of only 11 per cent with a production capacity of one million tonnes.

However, the company believes it will achieve its target export growth of 20 per cent at the end of this year by boosting exports in the second half.

Although China has exported more steel to the world market, the country's commercial steel is different from Sahaviriya Steel Plc, which mostly exports premium steel.

Currently, the company ex-ports mainly to the US, China

and Europe but it is looking to penetrate new markets such as the Middle East, Central America and India.

 Chalida

 Ekvitthayavechnukul

 The Nation