POSCO received highest marks in 4 categories including technology innovation and HR in WSD evaluation of 36 steel companies worldwide

Core competitiveness strengthening strategy including solution marketing activities received high scores.

POSCO was ranked `1st as the world`s most competitive steelmaker,` 7 times in a row in the last 5 consecutive years.

A global steel specialized analysis institution WSD (World Steel Dynamics) hosted its 29th global steel strategy conference (SSS; Steel Success Strategies) on June 17th local time in New York, and announced its `World-Class Steelmaker Rankings.

POSCO placed 1st overall with an overall score of 7.91 (out ot 10), receiving the highest scores in four categories including technology innovation and HR (Human Resource) The second ranking company was 0.36 points behind, and considering that the difference between the companies ranked in the top ten was only around 0.1 points, POSCO received an overwhelmingly high score.

WSD evaluated 23 categories including production scale, profitability, technology innovation, price decisiveness, cost saving, financial soundness, and securing raw materials of 36 global steelmakers as of June 2014.

POSCO especially received high scores for its strategy to strengthen core competitiveness such as expanding high value added product sales and technology based solution marketing activities.

POSCO was considered to be successful in improving the core competitiveness in general, receiving scores higher than last year in technology innovation, high value added steel product production, and hot and cold rolled steel sectors.

Meanwhile, the leading U.S. electric furnace company Nucor, which has been benefiting from the steel economy recovery of advanced countries as well as shale gas development was ranked 2nd, and NSSMC and JFE, with higher export competitiveness due to ``Abenomics,`` respectively ranked 3rd and 8th, showing an increase in ranking from the previous year.

India steelmakers such as SAIL and Jindal, which were ranked in the top 10 last year, were not this year, while Hyundai Steel and Turkey`s Erdemir newly entered the top 10.

POSCO, by increasing its core competitiveness, plans to establish itself as a steelmaker boasting the world`s best competitiveness.

• [Editor:Phillip.Feng]