Tata Steel today said it witnessed 38 per cent rise in its sales to about 462,000 tonnes in October on the back of robust demand from the construction sector.

In the corresponding period last year, the steel major’s sales stood at about 335,000 tonnes, the company said in a statement here.

The company added that in the reporting month there was 89 per cent increase in the sales of long steel products over the same month a year ago. However, the quantum of products mainly used by the infrastructure and construction companies could not be ascertained immediately.

During the month under review, the company saw its crude steel output rising by 22 per cent to 599,000 tonnes.

Its saleable steel production increased by 27 per cent to about 570,000 tonnes last month as against about 450,000 tonnes in October 2008.

The company’s hot metal production went up to about 649,000 tonnes as compared to 555,000 tonnes produced a year ago, registering a growth of 17 per cent. Tata Steel added that it was the best ever hot metal production recorded.

The firm said it “completed October’09 with a significant increase in its hot metal, crude steel and saleable steel production over the corresponding month of last year.”

In addition to hot metal, the firm said its steel melting shops too recorded their best ever monthly production.