Tisco had a half-year operating revenue of 42.80 billion yuan, up 6.67 percent year-to-year, a net profit of 2.15 billion yuan, down 21.72 percent with earnings per share of 0.62 yuan, down 21.72 percent. The stainless steel maker contributed the decrease in profit to the slid of stainless prices, rising raw material costs and a strained railway capacity.

    For example, the price of imported iron ore concentrates was up more than 80 percent, that of coking coal was up more than 100 percent, that of scrap was up 68 percent and that of ferrochrome was up 70 percent.