SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

 
FORM 6-K
 
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the month of November, 2004

Commission File Number 1-14732
 

 
COMPANHIA SIDERÚRGICA NACIONAL
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 

National Steel Company
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
 

Rua Lauro Muller, 116 - sala 3702
Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Federative Republic of Brazil
(Address of principal executive office)
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. 

Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F _______

 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  

Yes _______ No ___X____



For additional information please contact:    
    Luciana Paulo Ferreira As of 11/8/2004 Bovespa: CSNA3 R$42.38/share
    CSN - Investor Relations (5511) 3049-7591   NYSE: SID US$15.10/ADR (1 ADR=1 share)
    luferreira@csn.com.br    www.csn.com.br   Shares Outstanding = 286.9 million
    Market Capitalization: R$12.2 billion / US$4.3 billion


CSN’S CONSOLIDATED 9-MONTH ACCUMULATED NET INCOME EXCEEDS
2003 NET INCOME AND REACHES R$1.45 BILLION

 

São Paulo, Brazil, November 9, 2004

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN) (BOVESPA: CSNA3) (NYSE: SID) announced today its third quarter results (3Q04), in accordance with accounting principles required by the Brazilian Corporate Law and denominated in Reais. The comments included in this press release, unless otherwise stated, refer to consolidated results with comparisons to the third quarter of 2003 (3Q03), except when otherwise indicated. The US dollar/Real exchange rate on September 30, 2004 was R$2.8586.


Message from Benjamin Steinbruch, CEO and Chairman
 

Brazilian and global steel industries witnessed one of their best moments in this third quarter of 2004.
Even with the recent fall in the valuations of commodities’ companies in stock markets worldwide, due to a slight fall in prices (for some products in the USA), there is still room for specific price increases, like the ones observed in Brazil and Europe. Demand is responding positively and both local and international perspectives have been improving throughout the year.
Prices in the North-American market have approached the international standard, and growth revision for emerging countries, like China and India, make us believe that the steel cycle is very close to its peak. However, analysts worldwide share the same point of view of CSN, that the decrease in prices, if it happens, will be small, given uncertainties regarding some raw-materials supply and the replacement of non-competitive capacity in several parts of the northern hemisphere, either due to technological or environmental needs – which is the case for the unavoidable shift in Europe after the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol.
I am convinced that CSN is better positioned to face an occasional adverse scenario than other worldwide steel producers. Our integration, our active presence from mining and logistics to high value added flat steel products contribute to a competitiveness and a cash generation capability that stand out in the sector.
I believe that 4Q04 will continue many of the positive trends seen today and that 2005 and will be, on average, better than 2004, with higher average prices and lower cost pressures for CSN. Additionally, ongoing investments, such as Casa de Pedra mine expansion, and future investments, like the increase in crude steel production capacity and international projects, allow CSN a medium and long term growth and an outstanding position in the international steel sector, which, in turns, keeps its consolidation trend.
In addition, I would like to highlight that today the Company’s shares are been negotiated at an average of 3.4x Firm Value/EBITDA, compared to an historical average of over 4x.

Consolidated Results
  2004  3Q
2003 
Chg.%  2004  9M
2003 
Chg.% 
Crude Steel Production 1,413  1,360  3.8 4,136  3,968  4.2
Sales Volume (000 tons) 1,214  1,320  8.0 3,706  3,533  4.9
    Domestic Market 917  654  40.2 2,542  2,137  19.0
    Export Market 297  666  (55.4) 1,164  1,396  (16.6)
Net Revenues (steel products) (R$/ton) 2,126  1,266  67.9 1,822  1,314  38.7







Financial Data (R$ million)            







    Net Revenue 2,780  1,782  56.0 7,207  4,956  45.4
    Gross Profit 1,339  768  74.4 3,373  2,334  44.5
    EBITDA 1,361  747  82.2 3,374  2,270  48.6
    Net income (loss) 694  203  241.9 1,451  716  102.7








  Sep/04 Jun/04 Dec/03
Consolidated Net Debt R$ MM 5,123  5,998  4,729 

US$1,992 million (64%) of the Consolidated Gross Debt was foreign currency denominated as of September 2004, US$2,227 million (79%) as of June 2004 and US$2,177 million (70%) as of December 2003.


EBITDA Reconciliation to Operating Income before Financial and Equity Results
  3Q   9M  
  2004  2003    2004  2003   
EBITDA 1,361  747    3,374  2,270   
Depreciation (204) (191)   (607) (486)  
Other operating expenses (26) (22)   (39) (28)  
Operating income bef Fin.and equity 1,131  534    2,728  1,756   
EBITDA consists of operating income plus depreciation and other operating expenses. EBITDA does not represent net income or cash flows from operations, as these terms are defined by U.S. GAAP. EBITDA, as presented, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. We believe that EBITDA is useful because comparisons based on other measures, such as net income or cash flows from operating activities, include elements that vary from company to company depending on where they are located or on their capital structure. We present in the table above a reconciliation from EBITDA to operating income before financial and equity results.


Production and Production Costs
 

• Production

Output volumes1 in the third quarter of 2004 totaled 1.4 million tons of crude steel and 1.3 million tons of rolled finished products. In the first 9 months of 2004, the production of crude steel reached 4.1 million tons, up by 4%, while rolled finished products increased by 6% against the same period of 2003, totaling 3.7 million tons. These increases are the result of the Company’s continuous efforts to improve productivity.


_____________________
1 Output measured at the continuous casting for crude steel and at the hot strip mill for rolling products. These differ from inventories entry due to natural losses in the process.

• Production Costs (Parent Company)

In 2004, total production costs were 37% higher on a third quarter basis, and 36% higher on a 9-month basis. The increase in production costs was mainly due to higher imported raw materials prices – as a result of the supply and demand imbalance in the international market, driven by increased internal consumption in China. Raw material now represents 51% of total costs, compared to only 40% in 3Q03.

In the first 9 months of 2004, coal and coke costs were R$450 million higher from the comparable period in 2003. In 3Q04, the percentage of total costs declined by 1 percentage point (p.p.), for these inputs, compared to 2Q04, but increased by 12 p.p. compared to 3Q03, accounting for 33% of total costs.

Another highlight was the decline of outsourced hot coils, as a result of a change in the Company’s commercial strategy.

Costs remained constant compared to 2Q04 given the impact of the Real appreciation on imported or dollar-linked raw material, which remained at 47% of total cash costs.

Higher crude steel output in 2004 also contributed to an increase in our need for raw materials in general. Lastly, the non-cash effect of asset revaluation and CSN Paraná’s start-up increased the depreciation in the beginning of 2004 by R$97 million.


Net Revenues
 

In the third quarter of 2004, sales volumes of finished products and slabs reached 1.2 million tons, decreasing by 8%, from the same period in the prior year, due to the reduction of outsourced hot coils. Domestic market increased by 40% in the quarter, reflecting a 37% growth on flat steel demand in Brazil and a slight market share increase. Export sales, however, decreased by 55%, when compared the same periods, and accounted for 24% of total sales. In the 9-month period, sales volumes grew by 5%, highlighting the 19% growth of domestic sales, with domestic demand increasing by 15% due to the economic recovery.

Exports for the parent company were largely to the United States and Europe, which represented 39% and 35% of total exports, respectively. This mainly reflects our operations with CSN LLC (USA) and Lusosider (Portugal). Exports to Asia and Latin America amounted for 13% and 10%, respectively. Since CSN LLC and Lusosider sales are made in their respective regions, CSN consolidated sales show substantially the same distribution worldwide.

Consolidated net revenues in 3Q04 were 56% higher, reaching R$2,780 million. This performance was mainly due to a 68% increase in average prices, resulting from price increases in the domestic market, as well as in the international markets, especially in the United States. Since export prices in the period remained higher, domestic sales accounted for 73% of the quarter’s total net revenues, below the 76% of total volumes. In the 9-month period the domestic market represents 68% of net revenues and 69% of total volumes, since export prices were higher than domestic prices.


Gross Profit, Operational Income and EBITDA
 

• Gross Profit

Gross profit in the 3Q04 increased by R$571 million compared to 3Q03 and R$146 million compared to 2Q04. Gross margin grew by 5 p.p. compared to the same period of the previous year as a result of higher steel prices. Compared to the previous quarter, gross margin had a 2 p.p. increase. In the 9-month period, gross income was 45% higher, while the gross margin remained flat at 47%.

• Operational Income

In 3Q04, operating income reached R$1.1 billion, compared to R$939 million in 2Q04. This R$192 million increase reflects the higher gross income and the reduction in selling expenses, due to smaller export volume. Operating income in the 9-month period grew by 55%, reflecting the increase in gross income.

• EBITDA

EBITDA in the third quarter totaled R$1,361 million, an 82% increase compared to the R$747 million reported in 3Q03. EBITDA margin was 49%, or 7 p.p. and 3 p.p. above 3Q03 and 2Q04, respectively. In the 9-month period, EBITDA increased by 49%, reaching R$3.4 billion with a 47% margin. This figure surpasses the 2003 FYE EBITDA by R$372 million.


Financial and Equity Results
 

• Financial Results

Financial results (which include financial revenues and expenses as well as results from net exchange and monetary variation, but exclude amortization of deferred exchange losses) amounted to negative R$11 million in the quarter, compared to negative R$242 million in 3Q03, due to lower cost of net debt in the period. However, in the first nine months of 2004, financial results were R$630 million, compared to negative R$557 million in the same period of 2003. For a breakdown of the financial results, please refer to table on page 6.

Deferred Exchange Losses: Total amortization of deferred exchanges losses due to the real devaluation in 2001 was R$25 million in 3Q04, compared to R$33 million in 2Q03. The balance to be amortized in 2004 is R$25 million.

• Equity Results

Equity results were negative R$4 million in 3Q04, which represented a R$28 million variation when compared to 3Q03. Although the gains related to the stake at MRS were stable, the Company registered a R$9 million higher loss related to Itasa, due to a lower net income at Itasa in 3Q04. In addition, the Company started to amortize goodwill related to the investments in GalvaSud and Tangua (CSN LLC controlling shareholder) in 2Q04 and 4Q03, respectively. These amortizations were R$7 million and R$ 4 million, respectively in 3Q04.


Net Income
 

In 3Q04, the Company recorded R$386 million in provisions for Income Tax and Social Contribution (IT/SC), compared to a R$70 million provision in 2Q04. The main reasons for this difference are greater results before taxes, higher taxable results in offshore affiliated companies in 3Q04 and a reversion related to the Summer Plan (accrual of 42.72% of the financial effects on taxes related to the 89 inflation) in the previous quarter. Compared to 3Q03, the R$317 million increase is mainly related to lower results before tax in 2003.

As a result of the items previously mentioned, the Company’s consolidated net income in 3Q04 reached R$694 million, 242% higher than the R$203 million recorded in the same period of the previous year, and 64% higher than in 2Q04. In the 9-month period, net income reached R$1.45 billion, up by R$735 million.


Net Debt/EBITDA = 1.1 x
 

On September 30, 2004, consolidated net debt amounted to R$5,123 million, R$875 million lower than on June 30, 2004. This reduction reflects high cash flow generation and lower financial costs, partially offset by higher raw material inventories that increased our working capital needs. Current net debt /annualized accumulated EBITDA ratio was at 1.1x, within the previously announced estimates.

The cost of net debt for the first nine months of 2004 was equivalent to 92% of the CDI. As the Company’s hedging strategy contemplates financial and operational assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency, the derivatives amount to approximately US$1 billion. For the year, the Company expects the financial cost to remain around 100% of Cetip’s CDI.


Capex
 

In the first 9 months of 2004, total capex reached R$ 646 million. The main expenditure, once again, was related to CSN Paraná, in addition to projects related to maintaining the operating and technological excellence of the facilities, as well as the acquisition of the remaining capital of GalvaSud, which amounted to R$306 million.


Recent Events
 


Outlook
 

In 3Q04, over 75% of the Company’s sales were in the domestic market. The Company intends to keep its export sales around 25/30% in the rest of 2004 and 2005. The Company expects no significant increase in sales volume compared to the 5.1 million tons projected for 2004. A higher value-added product mix though is expected given the full year end impact of the increase in production in the galvanizing plants in Brazil and US.

International prices remain positive, despite the expected slight fall in American prices, which have been approaching European prices, since European producers already announced price increases for 1Q05. CSN believes that the average price in 2005 will be higher than in 2004. The Company expects domestic prices to have a slight premium over the European market, due to the appreciation of real against the dollar. For 2005, even if international prices fall to near US$520/t in the end of the year (as forecast by CRU –Commodities Research Unit), the Company does not expect a decrease in domestic prices, which would be then near to import prices in Brazil.

Costs were kept constant during 3Q04, and no significant cost increase is expected for 4Q04, since any marginal coal price increase would be offset by decreased coke prices and by economies generated by the continuous search for cost reduction alternatives. For 2005, the market points to coal price increases, which we only expect to impact the total cost by 15% between the second and fourth quarters of 2005. Still, the Company expects that gross and EBITDA margins will be higher, between 47% and 50% in 2005, due to a higher and more stable price environment.

Regarding cash flow, CSN intends to recover part of the working capital invested until September 2004, having used the free cash flow in 3Q04 to reduce the debt level by R$875 million. For 4Q04, a reduction by a similar amount is expected with a Net Debt/EBITDA level near 1x. For 2005, with higher investment needs related to the Casa da Pedra expansion, the Net Debt/EBITDA level should remain near 1x, lower than 2004 level, also due to the higher EBITDA expected for the period.


3Q04 Earnings Result Conference Call
 

CSN will host conference call to discuss 3Q04 results on November 11th, 2004, as follows:



Portuguese Presentation English Presentation
November 11th, 2004 – Thursday November 11th, 2004 – Thursday
10:00 AM –Brasília 12:00 AM – Brasília
7:00 AM – US ET 9:00 AM – US ET
(55-11) 2101-1490 (1-973) 582-2734
Code: CSN Code: CSN or 5342041





Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional, located in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a steel complex formed by investments in infrastructure and logistics, that combines, in its operation, captive mines, an integrated steel mill, service centers, ports and railways. With a total annual production capacity of 5.8 million tons of crude steel and consolidated gross revenues of R$ 8.3 billion reported in 2003, CSN is also the only tin-plate producer in Brazil and one of the five largest tin-plate producers worldwide.

Certain of the statements contained herein are forward-looking statements, which express or imply results, performance or events that are expected in the future. They include future results that may be implied by historical results, the statements under “Message from CEO” and “Outlook”, the expected nominal cost of gross debt compared to CDI and the expected ratio at 2004 year-end of net indebtedness to EBITDA. Actual results, performances or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, as a result of several factors, such as general and economic conditions in Brazil and other countries, interest rate and exchange rate levels, protectionist measures in the US, Brazil and other countries, changes in laws and regulations and general competitive factors (on a global, regional or national basis).



Six pages of tables follow

INCOME STATEMENT
Consolidated – Corporate Law – In thousands of R$ - Limited Revision

  3Q04  2Q04  3Q03  9M03  9M04 
Gross revenue 3,339,247  2,999,802  2,066,634  5,898,369  8,600,865 
    Gross revenue deductions (559,472) (437,431) (284,460) (942,586) (1,393,569)
Net revenue 2,779,775  2,562,371  1,782,174  4,955,783  7,207,296 
    Domestic Market 2,036,129  1,577,156  1,033,072  3,277,327  4,897,113 
    Export Market 743,646  985,215  749,102  1,678,456  2,310,183 
Cost of goods sold (COGS) (1,440,581) (1,369,553) (1,013,827) (2,622,272) (3,834,443)
    COGS, excluding depreciation (1,247,955) (1,158,305) (832,226) (2,163,350) (3,260,953)
    Depreciation allocated to COGS (192,626) (211,248) (181,601) (458,922) (573,490)
Gross Profit 1,339,194  1,192,818  768,347  2,333,511  3,372,853 
Gross Margin (%) 48.2% 46.6% 43.1% 47.1% 46.8%
    Selling expenses (106,681) (152,476) (148,485) (348,621) (381,978)
    General and administrative expenses (64,089) (71,848) (53,976) (174,193) (190,531)
    Depreciation allocated to SG&A (11,351) (11,103) (9,141) (26,811) (33,056)
    Other operating income (expense), net (25,732) (18,113) (22,346) (27,730) (39,119)
Operating income before financial and equity interest 1,131,341  939,278  534,399  1,756,156  2,728,169 
Net financial result (36,703) (469,412) (275,100) (658,924) (709,924)
    Financial expenses (262,183) (218,151) (196,122) (531,359) (770,401)
    Financial income (30,889) 93,965  53,731  (855,359) 230,512 
    Monetary and foreign exchange loss* 281,578  (318,772) (99,917) 829,418  (90,203)
    Defferral of foreign exchange loss (25,209) (26,454) (32,792) (101,624) (79,832)
Equity interest in subsidiaries (4,101) 11,109  23,684  34,584  14,457 
Operating Income (loss) 1,090,537  480,975  282,983  1,131,816  2,032,702 
Non-operating income (expenes) Net (9,560) 12,530  (9,992) (19,797) 3,309 
Income Before Income and Social Contribution Taxes 1,080,977  493,505  272,991  1,112,019  2,036,011 
    (Provision)/Credit for income tax (285,992) (39,471) (51,484) (309,755) (415,714)
    (Provision)/Credit for social contribution (100,503) (30,523) (18,464) (86,279) (169,019)

Net income (Loss) 694,482  423,511  203,043  715,985  1,451,278 

EBITDA 1,361,050  1,179,742  747,487  2,269,619  3,373,834 
EBITDA margin (%) 49.0% 46.0% 41.9% 45.8% 46.8%

EBITDA = Gross profit less selling, general and administrative expenses, provision for profit sharing, depreciation, amortization and depletion.

Net Financial Results
Consolidated - Corporate Law - In thousands of R$ - Limited Revision

  3Q04  2Q04  3Q03  9M03  9M04 
Financial Expenses (262,183) (218,151) (196,122) (531,359) (770,401)
Loans and financing (189,377) (203,904) (132,059) (365,975) (599,235)
    Local currency (55,907) (57,280) (67,653) (205,476) (181,879)
    Foreign currency (133,470) (146,624) (64,406) (160,499) (417,356)
Taxes (32,208) (17,964) (30,554) (88,802) (112,434)
Other financial expenses (40,598) 3,717  (33,509) (76,582) (58,732)


Financial Income (30,889) 93,965  53,731  (855,359) 230,512 
Income from marketable securities (49,940) 78,609  45,201  (892,338) 180,600 
Other income 19,051  15,356  8,530  36,979  49,912 


Exchange and Monetary Variation 256,369  (345,226) (132,709) 727,794  (170,035)
Net monetary variation (31,185) (3,481) (8,465) (36,869) (37,075)
Net exchange variation 312,763  (315,291) (91,452) 866,287  (53,128)
Deferred exchange losses (25,209) (26,454) (32,792) (101,624) (79,832)


Net Financial Results (36,703) (469,412) (275,100) (658,924) (709,924)



CASH FLOW
CONSOLIDATED - Corporate Law -In thousands of Reais - Limited Revision

  3Q04  2Q04  3Q03  9M03  9M04 
Cash Flow from Operating Activities 668,048  536,541  250,737  1,297,143  1,306,754 
    Net income for the period 694,482  423,511  203,043  715,985  1,451,278 
        Exchange Rate Deferral 25,209  26,454  32,792  101,624  79,832 
        Net Exchange and Monetary variations (535,226) 475,196  72,691  (841,941) (75,576)
        Provision for financial expenses 239,956  220,716  138,646  355,552  666,871 
        Depreciation, exhaustion and amortization 203,921  222,216  190,742  485,733  606,490 
        Equity Results 4,101  (11,109) (23,684) (34,584) (14,457)
        Deferred IT/SC 84,581  23,752  27,528  335,764  162,104 
        Provision for derivatives (82,035) (143,965) 88,672  904,888  (597,502)
        Provision for Unfunded Pension Liabilities 7,705  7,909  10,858  51,287  22,345 
        Other provisions 54,722  22,800  11,491  (27,704) 128,052 
    Working Capital (29,368) (730,939) (502,042) (749,461) (1,122,683)
        Accounts Receivable 223,185  (382,593) (441,486) (436,664) (249,443)
        Inventories (709,158) (370,699) (66,650) (316,988) (1,257,062)
        Suppliers 103,911  100,830  (61,637) (37,323) 55,504 
        Taxes 387,107  (49,557) 83,411  (2,366) 301,636 
        Others (34,413) (28,920) (15,680) 43,880  26,682 
Cash Flow from Investing Activities (127,191) (416,326) (139,818) (334,515) (646,433)
    Investments - (139,205) - 66,250  (139,205)
    Fixed Assets (127,191) (277,121) (139,818) (400,765) (507,228)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities 362,096  (1,143,601) 719,191  26,576  (1,025,241)
    Issuances 1,092,611  1,039,313  1,472,264 3,515,120  2,805,746 
    Amortizations (418,371) (1,076,167) (547,573) (2,238,800) (2,221,235)
    Interest Expenses (221,969) (262,735) (204,806) (450,073) (675,560)
    Dividends/Interest on Equity (28) (752,221) (694) (799,671) (752,254)
    Stocks in Treasury (90,147) (91,791) -   (181,938)

Free Cash Flow 902,953  (1,023,386) 830,110  989,204  (364,920)

EXCHANGE RATE
In R$/US$

  4Q02  1Q03  2Q03  3Q03  4Q03  1Q04  2Q04  3Q04 
End of Period 3.5333 3.3531 2.872 2.9234 2.8892 2.9086 3.1075 2.8586

% change (9.3) (5.1) (14.4) 1.8 (1.2) 0.7 6.8 (8.1)
Acumulated (%) 52.3 (5.1) (18.7) (17.3) (18.2) 0.7 7.6 (1.1)

INCOME STATEMENT
Parent Company – Corporate Law – In thousands of R$ - Limited Revision

  3Q04  2Q04  3Q03  9M03  9M04 
Gross revenue 2,761,068  2,673,941  1,791,743  5,294,157  7,347,150 
    Gross revenue deductions (447,589) (358,105) (236,343) (795,641) (1,129,477)
Net revenue 2,313,479  2,315,836  1,555,400  4,498,516  6,217,673 
    Domestic Market 1,949,722  1,466,591  926,463  3,122,274  4,625,675 
    Export Market 363,757  849,245  628,937  1,376,242  1,591,998 
Cost of goods sold (COGS) (1,126,621) (1,258,589) (911,096) (2,466,532) (3,248,311)
    COGS, excluding depreciation (953,994) (1,060,939) (739,621) (2,030,328) (2,721,969)
    Depreciation allocated to COGS (172,627) (197,650) (171,475) (436,204) (526,342)
Gross Profit 1,186,858  1,057,247  644,304  2,031,984  2,969,362 
Gross Margin (%) 51.3% 45.7% 41.4% 45.2% 47.8%
    Selling expenses (66,040) (65,793) (68,070) (160,957) (189,667)
    General and administrative expenses (46,851) (57,139) (45,710) (149,047) (145,588)
    Other operating income (expense). Net (7,473) (7,450) (6,448) (20,066) (22,260)
    Depreciation allocated to SG&A (43,790) (24,428) (19,792) (18,892) (79,290)
Operating income before financial and equity interest 1,022,704  902,437  504,284  1,683,022  2,532,557 
Net financial result (18,171) (436,639) (415,374) (539,261) (829,245)
    Financial expenses (269,107) (233,351) (229,932) (590,773) (802,778)
    Financial income (244,230) 278,997  (15,560) (998,196) 67,138 
    Monetary and foreign exchange loss 520,375  (456,743) (137,758) 1,149,330  (15,353)
    Defferral of foreign exchange loss (25,209) (25,542) (32,124) (99,622) (78,252)
Equity interest in subsidiaries 99,528  111,982  171,245  (5,316) 453,704 
Operating Income (loss) 1,104,061  577,780  260,155  1,138,445  2,157,016 
Non-operating income (expenes. Net (9,458) (729) (10,182) (22,341) (10,241)
Income Before Income and Social Contribution Taxes 1,094,603  577,051  249,973  1,116,104  2,146,775 
    (Provision)/Credit for income tax (277,911) (54,951) (42,735) (300,527) (422,730)
    (Provision)/Credit for social contribution (97,724) (36,457) (15,391) (82,714) (172,075)


Net income (Loss) 718,968  485,643  191,847  732,863  1,551,970 


EBITDA 1,246,594  1,131,965  701,999  2,158,184  3,160,449 
EBITDA Margin (%) 53.9% 48.9% 45.1% 48.0% 50.8%


Additional Information


Deliberated Dividends and Interest on Equity 35,000  506,138  35,000 


Number of Shares - thousands ** 282,169  284,404  71,729,261  71,729,261  282,169 


Earnings (Loss) per share - R$ 2.55  1.71  2.67  10.22  5.50 
** Excluding treasury stocks
EBITDA = Gross profit less selling, general and administrative expenses, provision for profit sharing, depreciation, amortization and depletion.

BALANCE SHEET
Corporate Law – thoushands of R$ – Limited Revision

  Parent Company Consolidated
  09/30/2004  06/30/2004  09/30/2004  06/30/2004 
Current Assets 6,249,078  5,534,896  7,840,038  6,253,120 
    Cash and marketable securities 1,826,478  1,698,543  3,560,175  2,581,986 
    Trade accounts receivable 2,223,553  2,215,887  1,372,764  1,583,567 
    Inventory 1,534,784  1,045,181  2,150,766  1,441,477 
    Other 664,263  575,285  756,333  646,090 
Long-term assets 3,317,903  3,407,720  2,135,624  2,116,451 
Permanent asstes 16,278,278  16,185,554  13,713,488  13,855,350 
    Investiments 3,882,811  3,676,105  397,054  392,835 
    PP&E 12,157,169  12,238,437  12,999,141  13,108,212 
    Deffered 238,298  271,012  317,293  354,303 

Total Assets 25,845,259  25,128,170  23,689,150  22,224,921 

Current Liabilities 3,543,808  3,017,145  3,629,749  3,188,105 
    Loans and financing 2,192,733  1,787,630  2,110,030  1,925,518 
    Other 1,351,075  1,229,515  1,519,719  1,262,587 
Long-term liabilities 13,523,487  13,961,882  11,375,588  10,954,261 
    Loans and financing 8,039,347  8,892,284  6,792,059  6,853,813 
    Deffered income and social contribution taxes 2,327,394  2,358,847  2,370,914  2,397,789 
    Other 3,156,746  2,710,751  2,212,615  1,702,659 
Future periods results 32,025  35,103 
Shareholders' Equity 8,777,964  8,149,143  8,651,788  8,047,452 
    Capital 1,680,947  1,680,947  1,680,947  1,680,947 
    Capital reserve 17,319  17,319  17,319  17,319 
    Revaluation reserve 4,824,141  4,885,196  4,824,142  4,885,196 
    Investment reserve 736,594  736,594  736,594  736,594 
    Treasury shares (181,938) (91,791) (181,938) (91,791)
    Retained earnings 1,700,901  920,878  1,574,724  819,187 

Total liabilites and shareholders' equity 25,845,259  25,128,170  23,689,150  22,224,921 

SALES VOLUME
Consolidated – thousand of tons

  3Q04  2Q04  3Q03  2003  2004 

DOMESTIC MARKET 918  848  654  2,137  2,542 
    Hot rolled 315  291  214  741  869 
    Cold rolled 156  183  152  487  520 
    Galvanized 227  201  122  394  590 
    Tim mill products 204  158  152  471  518 
    Slabs 16  15  13  44  45 
EXPORT MARKET 297  506  666  1,396  1,164 
    Hot rolled 52  192  278  534  379 
    Cold rolled 27  34  51  98  78 
    Galvanized 161  127  107  181  415 
    Tim mill products 42  123  120  297  248 
    Slabs 15  30  109  287  44 
TOTAL 1,214  1,354  1,320  3,533  3,706 
    Hot rolled 367  483  492  1,275  1,248 
    Cold rolled 183  217  203  585  597 
    Galvanized 388  328  229  575  1,005 
    Tim mill products 246  281  272  768  766 
    Slabs 30  45  123  330  89 

SALES VOLUME
Parent Company – thousands of tons

  3Q04  2Q04  3Q03  2003  2004 

DOMESTIC MARKET 951  814  627  2,195  2,526 
    Hot rolled 314  273  203  756  849 
    Cold rolled 242  192  153  522  605 
    Galvanized 179  178  118  408  516 
    Tim mill products 200  155  139  467  511 
    Slabs 16  15  13  43  45 
EXPORT MARKET 205  562  645  1,349  1,063 
    Hot rolled 69  223  297  552  451 
    Cold rolled 19  43  73  21 
    Galvanized 42  53  84  156  115 
    Tim mill products 32  116  111  287  221 
    Slabs 60  152  109  281  255 
TOTAL 1,156  1,376  1,272  3,544  3,590 
    Hot rolled 383  496  500  1,308  1,300 
    Cold rolled 244  211  197  595  626 
    Galvanized 221  231  202  564  631 
    Tim mill products 232  271  251  754  732 
    Slabs 76  167  123  324  300 

NET SALES PER UNIT
Consolidated – In R$/ton

  3Q04  2Q04  3Q03  2003  2004 

TOTAL 2,126  1,791  1,266  1,314  1,822 
    Hot rolled 1,715  1,423  959  1,001  1,436 
    Cold rolled 2,264  1,841  1,309  1,302  1,800 
    Galvanized 2,421  2,063  1,564  1,631  2,134 
    Tim mill products 2,319  2,139  1,790  1,840  2,145 
    Slabs 957  1,341  710  768  1,093 

NET SALES PER UNIT
Parent Company – In R$/ton

  3Q04  2Q04  3Q03  2003  2004 

TOTAL 1,896  1,603  1,152  1,196  1,640 
    Hot rolled 1,593  1,306  875  914  1,315 
    Cold rolled 1,841  1,639  1,161  1,147  1,646 
    Galvanized 2,341  2,030  1,468  1,528  2,063 
    Tim mill products 2,220  1,993  1,702  1,700  2,023 
    Slabs 1,316  1,215  619  672  1,215 

 


 

 
SIGNATURE
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: November 9, 2004

 
COMPANHIA SIDERÚRGICA NACIONAL
By:
/S/  Lauro Henrique Rezende

 
Lauro Henrique Rezende
Investments Executive Officer
 

 

 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.