China's Baosteel auto sheet sales up 10 pct in 2008

BEIJING, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Baosteel Group auto sheet sales rose 9.7 percent this year, despite a major slowdown in the auto industry, China's largest steelmaker said on Thursday in a statement on its Web site.

Sales of high-strength steel and plate grew the most at 31 and 25 percent, said Baosteel, the state-owned parent of Baoshan Iron and Steel Co Ltd (600019.SS). Soaring sales reversed course in the second half of the year as China's car sales began posting year-on-year monthly declines in August.

A sharp contraction in China's steel industry is forcing steelmakers to slash jobs and production.

Baosteel has said it will cut some steel prices in January after slashing them in an unscheduled cut for December.

Baosteel is the top producer of auto sheets in China, the world's largest steel consumer.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing By Keiron Henderson)