In the first half of this year, the domestic steel mills achieved an outstanding growth in sales revenue and profit.
It is attributed to more shipment and price hike. Simultaneously, the mills made aggressive investment, causing the debt ratio to increase to 120% from less than 50% of the  first half of 2005.
The 67 steel products makers sold 35,334 billion Won by 27.8% growth year-on-year. The growth of the first half of 2007 was also high at 24.1%. These are compared with 4.0% growth of 2005 and 1.0% of 2006. Last year's annual growth was 16.1%.
The sales profit was 5,544 billion Won by 60.6% augmentation, but the net profit rose to 4,113 billion Won by relatively low 14.6%. It is because of an increasing investment and loss of foreign exchange.
Meanwhile, the debt ratio was worsened to 64.1% from 55.9% a year earlier. When POSCO is excluded, other makers' debt ratio falls to 119.7%.

hyjung@snmnews.com