BLUESCOPE STEEL DELIVERS RECORD HALF YEAR RESULTS

International steel solutions company, BlueScope Steel Limited, the majority shareholder in BlueScope Steel (Thailand) Limited and BlueScope Lysaght (Thailand) Limited, has announced a net profit after tax of AUD485 million (14.5 Billion Bt) for the six months to 31 December 2004, an increase of 114 per cent over the previous corresponding period. Highlights for the half year included: Record earnings contribution from Hot Rolled Products, New Zealand Steel and from the Company’s 50 per cent interest in North Star BlueScope Steel Total revenue up 49 per cent to a record $3.89 billion Further downstream growth initiatives announced including a Western Sydney COLORBOND? steel paintline, new rollforming and pre-engineered building (PEB) facilities in India, and new rollforming and PEB facilities in China In commenting on the half year results, the Managing Director and CEO of BlueScope Steel, Mr Kirby Adams said: “We have achieved strong performance across all the geographical regions where we operate. “Very strong international pricing for slab and hot rolled coil (HRC) and for HRC and plate in the Australian domestic market, together with record production levels, led to much higher earnings for Port Kembla Steelworks. A record earnings contribution of $104 million from North Star BlueScope Steel further boosted the Hot Rolled Products result. We are very pleased with the earnings improvement achieved by New Zealand Steel, which has reaped the benefit of many years’ teamwork and focus on releasing the potential of the business. “From July 2005, a number of the previously announced growth initiatives across BlueScope Steel Asia will begin to start up, providing additional revenue and earnings momentum and enabling us to meet the growing demand for BlueScope Steel products in Asia”. As the largest Australian investor in Thailand, BlueScope Steel’s continued investment in the country will further support local customers in the building, construction, and manufacturing industries, when its second metallic coating line at Rayong commences producing premium quality ZINCALUME? steel mid calendar year 2005. BlueScope Steel is also constructing new painting and metallic coating lines in Vietnam and China to further support customers in those markets. Mr. Adams said: “The business outlook for BlueScope Steel remains very good. Global demand for our quality products is strong, product pricing remains healthy, and our operations are running well, even as we are stepping up our discretionary repair and maintenance activity. “In the second half, we expect to confront a range of issues, including: The continuing cost of industrial disruption at our Western Port plant in Australia The potential restructuring of the Packaging Products business in Australia which could result in restructuring charges of up to $50 million, after tax A stronger Australian dollar relative to the US dollar and Asian currencies; And higher raw material and scrap costs. “Notwithstanding these issues, we expect the second half NPAT to be similar to this very strong first half result. “Therefore, from a financial perspective, we are anticipating a record NPAT for FY2005.” About BlueScope Steel BlueScope Steel is an international steel solutions company, with a manufacturing and marketing footprint spanning Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and North America. The company operates steelworks in Australia, New Zealand, and the US. Additional steel rolling, coating and painting plants are located in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, and under construction in China and Vietnam. The company has a network of more than 50 rollforming facilities in 13 countries that is unmatched by any other steel company, and occupies market leading positions in pre-engineered steel buildings in China and North America. BlueScope Steel's businesses in Thailand, BlueScope Steel (Thailand) Limited and BlueScope Lysaght (Thailand) Limited, are manufacturers of quality steel products and building solutions. BlueScope Lysaght (Thailand) Limited was established in 1988 and manufactures a range of building and construction products. BlueScope Steel (Thailand) Limited was established in 1995 through a joint venture between Australia’s BlueScope Steel Limited and Loxley Public Company Limited. The manufacturing facility at Map Ta Phut produces premium quality flat steel products such as Clean COLORBOND? steel and ZINCALUME? steel for the construction and manufacturing industries. For further information about BlueScope Steel: www.bluescopesteel.co.th or www.bluescopesteelasia.com Contacts: Jarinthorn Thanasinlapakul Spark Communications Co., Ltd. Tel. 02-653 2717-9 Fax 02-653 2720 E-mail [email protected] End.

• ข่าวBlueScope Steel Limited
• ข่าวBlueScope Steel
• ข่าวo:event
• ข่าวo:con
• ข่าวo:eco