BNamericas reported that Aceros Arequipa took a PEN 197 million net loss in fourth quarter of 2008 as compared to a PEN 9.88 million net loss. Net sales in the period rose to PEN 391 million from PEN 362 million. Costs went up in the recent quarter to PEN 365 million from PEN 282 million.

In all of 2008, Aceros Arequipa made a net profit of PEN 130 million as against PEN 113 million in 2007. Net sales in 2008 amounted to PEN 2.17 billion as compared to PEN 1.34 billion. Costs rose to PEN 1.53 billion from PEN 1.03 billion.

Aceros Arequipa is expanding production from 540,000 tonnes per annum to 1 million tonnes per annum in 2010.

(Sourced from www.bnamericas.com)