Arcelor-Mittal HI profit surges on steel demand

摘要

Arcelor-Mittal on Wednesday reported a sharp 34 per cent surge in first-half net earnings, attributed to rising steel demand, but warned of a slowdown in activity in the third quarter. Arcelor-Mittal, created a year ago in the merger of European steel group Arcelor and Mittal Steel, said its net profit in the January-June period came to 3.742 billion euros (5.1 billion dollars) compared to 2.781 billion euros in the same period of 2006. Operating earnings advanced 38 per cent from first half 2006 to 5.784 billion euros. Underlying earnings, operating earnings plus depreciation, 31.5 per cent to 7.277 billion euros.