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 March, 2005

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)
 

Av. Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek 1830 - Torre I - 13º andar
Itaim Bibi
04543-900 São Paulo, SP, 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____


Marcos Leite Ferreira Bovespa: CSNA3 R$ 67.20/share
CSN - Investor Relations NYSE: SID US$ 25,78/ADR (1 ADR = 1 share)
(55 11) 3049-7591 Shares Outstanding = 286,917,045
marcos.ferreira@csn.com.br Market Capitalization: R$ 19.3 billion / US$ 7.4 billion
www.csn.com.br As of 02/28/2005



ANNUAL NET INCOME OF R$ 2.0 BILLlON and EBITDA OF R$ 4.8 BILLION
 


São Paulo, Brazil, February, 28th, 2005
Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN) (BOVESPA: CSNA3) (NYSE: SID) announced today its results for the fourth-quarter (4Q04) and the full year of 2004, in accordance with the accounting principles required by Brazilian Corporate Law and denominated in Reais. The comments included in this press release refer to the consolidated results and comparisons are with the fourth quarter of 2003 (4Q03) and the full year of 2003, unless otherwise stated. The US dollar/Real exchange rate on December 31, 2004, was R$ 2.6544.

Message from Benjamin Steinbruch, CEO and Chairman
 

CSN achieved record results in 2004 in both the operational and financial areas. Crude steel and rolled output totaled 5.5 million tons and 5 million tons, respectively, while net income reached R$ 2 billion on EBITDA of R$ 4.8 billion, the third successive annual improvement. These figures underline the strength of our long-term strategy – integrating mining, steel and logistics operations with a flexible mix of products and markets – for dealing with a sector like steel, which is extremely sensitive to changes in the economic climate.

During the year, we consolidated our leadership of the coated flat steel segment by acquiring outright control over GalvaSud S.A., in which we had maintained a stake since 1999. By implementing a management system more in line with CSN’s own practices, we achieved a significant improvement in GalvaSud´s production, quality and sales. The firm now complements our efforts to provide our clients with high-quality products, services and service on all fronts, enabling us to conquer new markets and expand to our share of certain existing ones.

As for the Casa de Pedra expansion project, our aim is to increase the mine’s production capacity by two and a half times, giving us an even more representative share of the mining sector. In the same area, we will continue to invest in the Sepetiba port complex to equip it for future ore exports. Distribution is yet another important facet in expanding CSN’s steel activities. This year, we consolidated our nationwide presence through Inal, the country’s biggest flat-steel distributor, offering our customers rapid, first-class product and service delivery.

The outlook for the steel market both in Brazil (domestic) and abroad is also highly promising, so it is essential that we be alert and fully prepared to face the challenges of the potential for further growth ahead. In this context, the acquisition in recent years of 50% of Lusosider, in Portugal, and 100% of CSN LLC, in the United States, will assume an increasingly important role in the globalization of our steel production. And we continue to explore opportunities to make more advances in this direction.

CSN is now a global player, maintaining the respect and trust of its shareholders, clients, suppliers and the market. Our product and service mix is among the best in the sector. Our technology is second to none and our personnel are fully qualified to operate it. Our 2004 performance was achieved through a seamless combination of a committed effort by every member of our workforce and our competitive advantage in terms of cost, raw materials and logistics.

Given these attributes and our results, we are convinced that the sector’s transformations and challenges will make us stronger and even better prepared to expand our presence in the global steel industry and become an important player in the mining sector, consolidating our position as a major and successful Brazilian company. We are convinced that we can fulfill these possibilities and realize these prospects in 2005.


Highlights
 

Consolidated

  4th Quarter Accumulated
  2004  2003  Var.% 2004  2003  Var.%
Crude Steel Production (000 tons) 1,389  1,350  2.9 5,518  5,318  3.8
Sales Volume (000 tons) 1,038  1,466  -29.2 4,744  5,000  -5.1 
    Domestic Market 756  897  -15.7 3,298  3,035  8.7
    International Market 282  569  -50.4 1,447  1,965  -26.4
Crude Steel Net Revenue (R$/t) 1,953  1,282  52.3 1,839  1,305  40.9

Financial Datas (R$ MM)

Net Revenue 2,592  2,022  28.2  9,800  6,977  40.4
Gross Profit 1,429  806  77.3 4,802  3,140  52.9
EBITDA 1,415  732  93.3 4,789  3,002  59.5
Net Income 531  315  68.6 1,982  1,031  92.2

Consolidated Net Debt (R$ million)

Dec’04 Sep’04 Jun’04 Mar’04 Dec’03
4,708  5,123  5,998  4,729  4,908 

Consolidation of MRS and Itasa

In December/04, CSN started consolidating the results of its subsidiaries MRS and Itasa (Itá Energética), in which it retains 32.22% and 48.75% of total capital, respectively. As a result, the 2004 balance sheet and income statement include the effect of these consolidations, while the 2003 balance sheet and income statements do not (in 2003, the results of MRS and Itasa were accounted for on the equity method). The impact on the main items are shown below (before eliminations):

Balance Sheet
  MRS  ITASA  Total 
Current Assets 465,632  26,756  492,389 
    Cash and Short-term Cash Investments 378,307  8,743  387,050 
Long-term Assets 100,574  6,797  107,371 
Property, Land & Intangible 272,971  539,054  812,025 
    Fixed Assets 250,547  491,268  741,815 

Total Assets 839,177  572,607  1,411,785 

Current Liabilities 527,866  53,067  580,933 
    Financing & Loans 356,223  39,886  396,109 
Long-term Liabilities 177,959  265,789  443,748 
    Financing & Loans 156,222  263,850  420,072 
Shareholders' Equity 133,352  253,752  387,104 
    Capital 101,601  207,821  309,422 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity 839,177  572,607  1,411,785 

Net Debt 134,138  294,992  429,130 




Income Statement
  MRS  ITASA  Total 
Net Income 450,002  143,366  593,368 
Cost of Goods Sold (243,967) (71,532) (315,499)
Gross Profit 206,035  71,834  277,869 
    SG&A (30,607) (20,367) (50,974)
    Interest Expenses (29,058) (30,843) (59,901)
Operating Profit 146,371  20,624  166,995 
    Gain (loss) to F/X changes (38,675) (17,147) (55,822)
    Non-recurrent Revenues 44  (0) 43 
Earnigs Before Taxes 107,740  3,477  111,217 
    Income Tax (24,070) 2,307  (21,764)
    Social Security Contribution (10,174) 853  (9,322)
    Contribution and Participation (1,848) (1,848)
Net Profit 71,647  6,636  78,283 

EBITDA 204,865  71,575  276,440 
Margin EBITDA 46% 50% 47%




Production and Production Costs
 

Production

Output1 volumes in the fourth quarter totaled 1.40 million tons of crude steel and 1.30 million tons of rolled products, respective year-on-year increases of 2.9% and 3.6%.
Annual crude-steel and rolled production stood at 5.5 million tons and 5.0 million tons, respectively, both 3.8% up on the corresponding 2003 figures. In fact, CSN has been recording output growth every year since 2002, thanks to its continuous efforts to improve productivity, which averaged 1,012 ton/man/year in 2004, 7% higher than the year before.

Production Costs (parent company)

Overall production costs moved up 36% in the final quarter, with coke and coal accounting for 78% of the increase.

For the year as a whole, raising in coal and coke explain 57% of increase in total production costs. A further 10% came from higher aluminum, zinc, tin and scrap-metal costs. Another highlight was the increase in depreciation, caused by the revaluation of assets in May/03, and the first recorded depreciation of the Paraná subsidiary (Jan/04). On the other side, hot-coil acquisitions fell from 183,000 tons, in 2003, to 82,000 tons (just 5,500 tons in the final quarter) due to lower volume consumed.
All in all, production costs totaled R$ 1.2 billion in 2004, 36% more than in 2003. Dollar-pegged costs moved up by 10 percentage points (p.p), accounting for 46% of total cash costs, due to the higher coal and coke prices.
It’s important to highlight the difference between production cost, which behavior was analized in this section, and cost of goods sold. COGS reported a 4% reduction, as consequence of lower sales in 4Q04, whereas, in 2004 presented 30% increase. However, changes in unit cost of goods sold and unit production costs are similar: 42% and 33% increase for the 4Q04 and 2004, respectively.

_____________________
1 Continuous casting output for crude steel and hot strip mill output for rolled products. These differ from the inventories entry due to natural losses during the process.



Net Revenues
 

Fourth-quarter net revenues climbed 28% year-on-year, due to the upturn in domestic and international prices. Sales volume totaled 1.0 million tons, 29% down when compared to 4Q03 and 15% less than the quarter before, the reduction being caused by December’s performance. On the export front, reduced demand from America led to a build-up of inventories in the service centers. The Company decided to await better conditions in this market and stopped sending products to its US subsidiary, preferring to maintain stocks in Brazil. Domestic sales were adversely affected by shipment difficulties at the beginning of December’ 04, caused by the negotiations over freight prices.It proved impossible to recover the resulting losses ahead in that month due to our clients’ collective vacations during December. Domestic-market sales fell from 918,000 tons, in the third quarter, to 756,000 tons in 4Q04, and exports from 297,000 to 282,000 tons in the same period.

Annual net revenues jumped by 41%, reaching the record level of R$ 9.8 billion (US$ 3.4 billion), reflecting the year’s healthier steel prices and more than offsetting the decline in volume. The latter stood at 4.7 million tons, 256,000 tons less than in 2003 (-5%), chiefly due to the fourth-quarter result. Most went to the domestic market (70%, versus 61%), fueled by the recovery of the Brazilian economy and higher domestic prices.
The United States and Europe continued to absorb most of the parent company’s export volume (34% each of the total), chiefly due to CSN LLC (USA) and Lusosider (Portugal). Asia and Latin America absorbed 11% and 10%, respectively, with China alone accounting for 40% of the Asian figure. Since CSN LLC and Lusosider sales are made in their respective regions, consolidated sales showed substantially the same distribution pattern as those of the parent company.


Gross Profit, Operating Income and EBITDA
 

  Gross Profit

Gross profit in the fourth quarter climbed R$ 623 million (77%) year-on-year. For 2004 as a whole, gross profit growth exceeded R$ 1,662 million (+53%) and gross margins widened from 45% to 49%. The latter improvement reflected the recovery of crude steel prices throughout the year, especially in Brazil.

  Operating Income

Annual operating income totaled R$ 3,774 million, 81% (or R$ 1,691 million) higher than in 2003, pushed by the increase in gross income, lower selling expenses (due to the drop in export volume) and lower provisions. Operating income in the final quarter stood at R$ 1,046 million, versus R$ 327 million in the same period the year before, also reflecting the changes in gross profit and selling expenses.

  EBITDA

EBITDA margins reached 49% for the year, up by 6 p.p. compared to 2003. The corresponding EBITDA figures stood at R$ 4.8 billion for 2004 and R$ 1.4 billion in the 4Q04, a 60% and 93% growth, respectively, exceeding the previous records set in 2003.


Financial and Equity Results
 

  Financial Results

Financial results (which include financial revenues and expenses, beyond net monetary and exchange variations, but exclude the amortization of deferred exchange losses) were R$ 179 million negative for the quarter, versus a negative R$ 345 million in the 4Q03, and R$ 809 million negative for the year, versus R$ 903 million negative in 2003.

Deferred Exchange Losses: the amortization of deferred exchange losses arising from the devaluation of the Real in 2001, was concluded in 2004, totaling expenses of R$ 113 million, versus R$ 133 million in 2003. There will be no further such amortizations as of 2005.

  Equity Income

Annual equity income were R$ 46 million negative, versus a gain of R$ 1 million in 2003, the downturn being due to the non-recurrence of the amortization of goodwill from the acquisition of a stake in Tecon in the 2003 (R$ 93 million), plus the already-cited consolidation of the holdings in MRS and Itasa. Consequently, the 2004 results comprised the amortizations of goodwill from the investments in GalvaSud (R$ 14 million), Tanguá (controlled by CSN LLC - R$ 18 million ) and Metalic (R$ 13 million).


Net Income
 

The Company posted a consolidated annual net income of R$ 1,982 million, almost double (+92%) the 2003 total. The fourth quarter figure was R$ 531 million, R$ 215 million up year-on-year.

Net income was substantially impacted by the increase in income tax and social contribution expenses, which totaled R$ 238 million for the quarter, versus R$ 349 million credit in the 4Q03, and R$ 823 million expenses for the year, versus R$ 47 million expenses in 2003. The main reasons for the difference were the higher pre-tax earnings and the 2003 booking of R$ 369 million in tax credits, due to a judicial decision in favor of the Company regarding the effects of understated inflation of the CPI in 1989 ("Plano Verão").


Net Debt
 

Consolidated net debt at year-end totaled R$ 4.7 billion, R$ 200 million less than at the close of 2003. If we exclude the impact of the consolidation of Itasa and MRS, the reduction would have been R$ 629 million. Cash generation in the period was partially offset by, among other factors, financial and income tax and social contribution expenses, the increase in working capital (chiefly due to raw material and finished product inventories), dividends to shareholders and capital expedintures (including the acquisition of the remaining stake in GalvaSud, around R$ 300 million).

The net debt/EBITDA ratio closed the year at 0.98x, slightly below the target announced at the end of 2003 (between 1 and 1.5x).The average cost of debt stood at 13.5%, equivalent to 84% of the CDI.

Gross debt fell by R$ 487 million, closing at R$ 8.5 billion, although it remained virtually flat in dollars – US$ 3.2 billion, versus US$ 3.1 billion in 2003.

During the year, CSN raised a total of US$ 562 million from three debt issues, with maturity terms of from 8 to 11 years and yields varying between 7.4% and 10% p.a. The resources were allocated to working capital and helped extend the debt’s profile and lower its average cost.


Capex
 

Annual consolidated capex stood at R$ 891 million, most of which went towards projects designed to maintain operational and technological excellence in the installations and the acquisition of the remaining capital of Galvasud (R$ 306 million). Since 2003, with the completion of the major upgrading and expansion projects, the Company has maintained a normal Capex level of around US$ 150 million p.a.


Recent Events
 

On January 21, 2005, the Company issued US$ 200 million in 10% a.a. notes, due 2015. The proceeds of which resources will be used for general corporate purposes. CSN was the only Brazilian non-financial firm that raised money on the international capital market in January.

On February 28, 2005 the Steinbruch family, has agreed to purchase almost all of the voting capital of Vicunha Steel S.A. held by the sellers. The share purchase and sale contract of which, with all terms and conditions, will be executed and delivered upon the fulfillment of certain conditions.

Once the above mentioned purchase is accomplished, the Steinbruch family will become the sole controlling shareholder of Vicunha Steel S.A. This company, through Vicunha Aços S.A., owns 99.9% of the voting and total capital stock of Vicunha Siderurgia S.A.. The shares issued by Vicunha Siderurgia S.A. are not publicly traded and its shareholding of 46.48% in the voting and total capital of CSN remains unchanged.


Outlook
 

The Company expects total sales volume of 5.3 million tons in 2005, accompanied by a higher added-value product mix given higher output from the galvanization plants in Brazil and the US. The domestic market should absorb around 75% of the total. Thus we expect the 4Q04 decline will be more than offset throughout the year, leading to a new record for this market.

We believe average prices will be higher in 2005 than in the year just ended, both internationally and in Brazil, where they should retain the premium over the European market observed in the 4Q04. International prices may record a slight downturn as of the second half, when supply and demand will be more balanced in the US and Europe. In January and February, the indications have been somewhat contradictory: while prices in the latter two markets have dipped, due to high inventories and seasonal factors. Some European firms have announced their intention to introduce price increases in the second quarter; in Asia, though, prices have remained firm, thanks to burgeoning demand. In any event, prices will be strongly influenced throughout the year by raw material prices, especially those of iron ore.

As for costs, we expect average coal prices of between US$ 100 and US$ 110/t (FOB), with new contracts coming into effect as of April and July. In the case or coke, we do not believe prices will increase dramatically, as they did in 2004, thanks to healthy supply conditions (at the end of 2004, the Chinese government had already freed export licenses involving sufficient volume to cover half of estimated annual consumption). We therefore expect an average of between US$ 250 and US$ 280/t (C&F).

Taking all the above into consideration, we expect 2005 EBITDA margins to widen, thanks to the higher and more stable prices.

Regarding 2005 cash flow, the main impact will come from investments in the Casa de Pedra expansion project and the higher income tax and social contribution rate (with a substantial reduction in the tax credit balance, as seen in 2004). Considering these effects we intend to maintain a net debt/EBITDA ratio of less than 1.0x, bearing in mind the expected increase in EBITDA for the period.


2004 Earnings Conference Call
 

CSN will host a conference call to discuss its 4Q04 and 2004 results on March 8, 2005, as follows:




Portuguese Presentation English Presentation
   
March 8, 2005 – Tuesday March 8, 2005 – Tuesday
10:00 am – Brasília 12:00 am – Brasília
8:00 am – US ET 10:00 am – US ET
Tel: (11) 2101-1490 Tel: (1-973) 582-2734
Code: CSN Code: CSN or 5750583




Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional, located in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a steel complex comprising investments in infrastructure and logistics whose operations include captive mines, an integrated steel mill, service centers, ports and railways. With a total annual production capacity of 5.7 million tons of crude steel and consolidated gross revenues of R$ 12.3 billion in 2004, 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).

Follow below six pages with tables

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

  4Q04 3Q04 4Q03 2003 2004
Gross revenue 3,649,776  3,339,247  2,393,331  8,291,700  12,250,641 
    Gross revenue deductions (1,057,503) (559,472) (371,689) (1,314,275) (2,451,072)
Net revenue 2,592,273  2,779,775  2,021,642  6,977,425  9,799,569 
    Domestic Market 1,911,401  2,036,129  1,348,162  4,625,489  6,808,514 
    Export Market 680,872  743,646  673,480  2,351,936  2,991,055 
Cost of goods sold (COGS) (1,162,801) (1,440,581) (1,215,283) (3,837,555) (4,997,244)
    COGS, excluding depreciation (954,719) (1,247,955) (1,022,786) (3,186,136) (4,215,672)
    Depreciation allocated to COGS (208,082) (192,626) (192,497) (651,419) (781,572)
Gross Profit 1,429,472  1,339,194  806,359  3,139,870  4,802,325 
Gross Margin (%) 55.1% 48.2% 39.9% 45.0% 49.0%
    Selling expenses (112,469) (106,681) (197,417) (546,038) (494,447)
    General and administrative expenses (110,052) (64,089) (69,438) (243,631) (300,583)
    Depreciation allocated to SG&A (23,448) (11,351) (10,967) (37,778) (56,504)
    Other operating income (expense), net (137,734) (25,732) (201,483) (229,213) (176,853)
Operating income before financial and equity interest 1,045,769  1,131,341  327,054  2,083,210  3,773,938 
Net financial result (211,990) (36,703) (376,733) (1,035,657) (921,914)
    Financial expenses (342,449) (262,183) (500,455) (1,031,814) (1,112,850)
    Financial income (268,526) (30,889) 69,780  (785,579) (38,014)
    Monetary and foreign exchange loss* 431,769  281,578  85,326  914,744  341,566 
    Defferral of foreign exchange loss (32,784) (25,209) (31,384) (133,008) (112,616)
Equity interest in subsidiaries (60,462) (4,101) (33,648) 936  (46,005)
Operating Income (loss) 773,317  1,090,537  (83,327) 1,048,489  2,806,019 
Non-operating income (expenes) Net (4,537) (9,560) 49,779  29,982  (1,228)
Income Before Income and Social Contribution Taxes 768,780  1,080,977  (33,548) 1,078,471  2,804,791 
    (Provision)/Credit for income tax (171,964) (285,992) 316,208  6,453  (587,678)
    (Provision)/Credit for social contribution (66,306) (100,503) 32,368  (53,911) (235,325)

Net income (Loss) 530,510  694,482  315,028  1,031,013  1,981,788 

EBITDA 1,415,033  1,361,050  732,001  3,001,620  4,788,867 
EBITDA margin (%) 54.6% 49.0% 36.2% 43.0% 48.9%

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

EXCHANGE RATE
In R$/US$

  3Q03  4Q03  1Q04  2Q04  3Q04  4Q04 
End of Period 2.9234 2.8892 2.9086 3.1075 2.8586 2.6544
 
% change 1.8 (1.2) 0.7 6.8 (8.1) (7.1)
Acumulated (%)
(17.3)
(18.2)
0.7
7.6
(1.1)
(8.1)

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

  4Q04 3Q04 4Q03 2003 2004
Gross revenue 2,781,361  2,761,068  1,989,773  7,283,930  10,128,511 
    Gross revenue deductions (864,542) (447,589) (318,085) (1,113,726) (1,994,019)
Net revenue 1,916,819  2,313,479  1,671,688  6,170,204  8,134,492 
    Domestic Market 1,482,641  1,949,722  1,223,002  4,345,276  6,108,316 
    Export Market 434,178  363,757  448,686  1,824,928  2,026,176 
Cost of goods sold (COGS) (814,722) (1,126,621) (972,897) (3,439,429)  (4,063,033) 
    COGS, excluding depreciation (654,409) (953,994) (799,279) (2,829,607)  (3,376,378) 
    Depreciation allocated to COGS (160,313) (172,627) (173,618) (609,822) (686,655)
Gross Profit 1,102,097  1,186,858  698,791  2,730,775  4,071,459 
Gross Margin (%) 57.5%  51.3%  41.8%  44.3%  50.1% 
    Selling expenses (67,163) (66,040) (85,372) (246,329) (256,830)
    General and administrative expenses (73,456) (46,851) (50,670) (199,717) (219,044)
    Depreciation & Amortization allocated to SG&A (7,536) (7,473) (5,246) (25,312) (29,796)
    Other operating income (expense), net (85,890) (43,790) (140,537) (159,429) (165,180)
Operating income before financial and equity interest 868,052  1,022,704  416,966  2,099,988  3,400,609 
Net financial result (2,458) (18,171) (529,400) (1,068,661)  (831,703)
    Financial expenses (254,560) (269,107) (503,006) (1,093,779)  (1,057,338) 
    Financial income (279,076) (244,230) (59,738) (1,057,934)  (211,938)
    Monetary and foreign exchange loss 556,105  520,375  64,061  1,213,391  540,752 
    Defferral of foreign exchange loss (24,927) (25,209) (30,717) (130,339) (103,179)
Equity interest in subsidiaries (29,514) 99,528  10,789  5,473  424,190 
Operating Income (loss) 836,080  1,104,061  (101,645) 1,036,800  2,993,096 
Non-operating income (expenes. Net (7,453) (9,458) 49,246  26,905  (17,694)
Income Before Income and Social Contribution Taxes 828,627  1,094,603  (52,399) 1,063,705  2,975,402 
    (Provision)/Credit for income tax (170,906) (277,911) 338,123  37,596  (593,636)
    (Provision)/Credit for social contribution (64,694) (97,724) 40,251  (42,463) (236,769)


Net income (Loss) 593,027  718,968  325,975  1,058,838  2,144,997 


EBITDA 1,121,791  1,246,594  736,367  2,894,551  4,282,240 
EBITDA Margin (%) 58.5%  53.9%  44.0%  46.9%  52.6% 


Additional Information


Deliberated Dividends and Interest on Equity 2,268,045    717,300  717,300  2,303,045 


Number of Shares - thousands ** 276,893  282,169  71,729.261  71,729.261  276,893 


Earnings (Loss) per share - R$ *** 2.14  2.55  0.00454  0.01476  7.75 


** 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
  12/31/2004   12/31/2003  12/31/2004  12/31/2003 
Current Assets 6,440,179  5,507,669  8,608,514  6,775,380 
    Cash and marketable securities 1,957,277  2,193,171  3,671,205  3,879,672 
    Trade accounts receivable 1,696,794  1,740,091  1,140,136  1,114,111 
    Inventory 1,560,071  642,435  2,276,027  891,807 
    Other 1,226,037  931,972  1,521,146  889,790 
Long-term assets 1,531,697  3,162,132  1,783,244  1,964,670 
Permanent asstes 17,752,126  15,640,981  14,312,890  13,782,155 
    Investiments 5,450,044  2,879,772  292,649  241,783 
    PP&E 12,092,187  12,430,298  13,666,804  13,134,055 
    Deffered 209,895  330,911  353,437  406,317 


Total Assets 25,724,002  24,310,782  24,704,648  22,522,205 


Current Liabilities 6,231,577  4,551,745  6,163,662  4,542,518 
    Loans and financing 1,253,736  2,368,487  1,772,455  2,386,771 
    Other 4,977,841  2,183,258  4,391,207  2,155,747 
Long-term liabilities 12,647,884  12,316,105  11,807,922  10,553,809 
    Loans and financing 7,535,135  7,446,565  6,697,237  6,570,642 
    Deffered income and social contribution taxes 2,296,013  2,422,146  2,296,038  2,460,007 
    Other 2,816,736  2,447,394  2,814,647  1,523,160 
Future periods results     77,796  6,496 
Shareholders' Equity 6,844,541  7,442,932  6,655,268  7,419,382 
    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 4,763,226  5,008,072  4,763,226  5,008,072 
    Investment reserve 823,392  736,594  823,392  713,044 
    Treasury shares (440,343)   (440,343)
    Retained earnings     (189,273)  


Total liabilites and shareholders' equity 25,724,002  24,310,782  24,704,648  22,522,205 


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

  4Q04 3Q04 4Q03 2003 2004
Cash Flow from Operating Activities 1,524,060  668,048  840,070  2,137,213  2,830,814 
    Net income for the period 530,510  694,482  315,028  1,031,013  1,981,788 
        Exchange Rate Deferral 32,784  25,209  31,384  133,008  112,616 
        Net Exchange and Monetary variations (430,972) (535,226) (35,697) (877,638) (506,548)
        Provision for financial expenses 276,338  239,956  169,888  525,440  943,209 
        Depreciation, exhaustion and amortization 231,585  203,921  203,464  689,197  838,075 
        Equity Results 60,462  4,101  33,648  (936) 46,005 
        Deferred IT/SC (210,697) 84,581  (462,818) (127,054) (48,593)
        Provision for derivatives (132,005) (82,035) (271,340) 633,548  (729,507)
        Provision for Unfunded Pension Liabilities 41,244  7,705  70,983  70,983  63,589 
        Other provisions 105,551  54,722  384,756  408,339  233,603 
    Working Capital 1,019,260  (29,368) 400,774  (348,687) (103,423)
        Accounts Receivable 258,328  223,185  493,040  56,376  8,885 
        Inventories (124,998) (709,158) (1,144) (318,132) (1,382,060)
        Suppliers 217,483  103,911  (25,186) (62,509) 272,987 
        Taxes 350,130  387,107  298,887  296,521  651,766 
        Others 318,317  (34,413) (364,823) (320,943) 344,999 
Cash Flow from Investing Activities (1,022,413) (127,191) (609,232) (943,747) (1,668,846)
        Investments (616) (178,477) (112,227) (139,821)
        Fixed Assets (1,021,797) (127,191) (430,755) (831,520) (1,529,025)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities (461,466) 362,096  1,244,318  1,270,894  (1,486,707)
        Issuances 1,125,093  1,092,611  2,268,989  5,784,109  3,930,839 
        Amortizations (987,503) (418,371) (945,198) (3,183,998) (3,208,738)
        Interest Expenses (340,769) (221,969) (79,468) (529,541) (1,016,329)
        Dividends/Interest on Equity 118  (28) (5) (799,676) (752,136)
        Stocks in Treasury (258,405) (90,147) (440,343)

Free Cash Flow 40,181  902,953  1,475,156  2,464,360  (324,739)

Net Financial Result
Corporate Law – In thousands of R$ - Limited Revision

  Parent Company Consolidated
  2004  2003  2004  2003 
Financial Expenses (1,057,338) (1,093,779) (1,112,850) (1,031,814)
Loans and financing (466,804) (382,377) (875,319) (538,275)
    Local currency (239,516) (196,439) (235,773) (216,201)
    Foreign currency (227,288) (185,938) (639,546) (322,074)
Transactions with subsidiaries (404,364) (297,749)
Taxes (130,664) (122,079) (128,542) (129,388)
Other financial expenses (55,506) (291,574) (108,989) (364,151)


Financial Income (211,938) (1,057,934) (38,014) (785,579)
Transactions with subsidiaries 55,137 
Income from cash investments 14,885  (24,043) 91,845  5,459 
Other income (281,960) (1,033,891) (129,859) (791,038)


Exchange and Monetary Variation 437,573  1,083,052  228,950  781,736 
Net monetary change (36,853) (26,385) (70,748) (33,182)
Net exchange change 577,605  1,239,776  412,314  947,926 
Deferred exchage losses (103,179) (130,339) (112,616) (133,008)

Net Financial Result (831,703) (1,068,661) (921,914) (1,035,657)

SALES VOLUME
Consolidated – thousand of tons

  4Q04  3Q04  4Q03  2003  2004 

DOMESTIC MARKET 756  918  897  3,035  3,298 
    Hot rolled 273  315  340  1,081  1,142 
    Cold rolled 129  156  184  671  648 
    Galvanized 192  227  164  558  783 
    Tim mill products 150  204  185  656  668 
    Slabs 12  16  24  69  57 
EXPORT MARKET 282  297  569  1,965  1,447 
    Hot rolled 38  52  216  750  417 
    Cold rolled 19  27  40  138  96 
    Galvanized 161  161  149  329  576 
    Tim mill products 64  42  90  387  312 
    Slabs 15  74  361  44 
TOTAL 1,038  1,214  1,466  5,000  4,744 
    Hot rolled 311  367  556  1,831  1,559 
    Cold rolled 147  183  224  809  745 
    Galvanized 354  388  313  887  1,359 
    Tim mill products 214  246  275  1,043  980 
    Slabs 12  30  98  430  101 


SALES VOLUME
Parent Company – thousands of tons

  4Q04  3Q04  4Q03  2003  2004 

DOMESTIC MARKET 828  951  874  3,069  3,355 
    Hot rolled 289  314  340  1096  1138 
    Cold rolled 216  242  172  694  822 
    Galvanized 165  179  156  564  681 
    Tim mill products 146  200  180  647  658 
    Slabs 12  16  25  68  57 
EXPORT MARKET 234  205  475  1,824  1,297 
    Hot rolled 60  69  247  799  510 
    Cold rolled 25  98  21 
    Galvanized 54  42  52  208  169 
    Tim mill products 54  32  76  363  275 
    Slabs 67  60  75  356  322 
TOTAL 1,062  1,156  1,349  4,893  4,652 
    Hot rolled 348  383  587  1,895  1,648 
    Cold rolled 216  244  197  792  843 
    Galvanized 219  221  208  773  850 
    Tim mill products 200  232  256  1,010  932 
    Slabs 79  76  99  423  379 


NET SALES PER UNIT
Consolidated – In R$/ton

  4Q04  3Q04  4Q03  2003  2004 

TOTAL 1,953  2,082  1,282  1,305  1,839 
    Hot rolled 1,620  1,682  979  995  1,465 
    Cold rolled 1,823  2,149  1,232  1,282  1,777 
    Galvanized 2,174  2,386  1,519  1,592  2,134 
    Tim mill products 2,217  2,289  1,857  1,845  2,153 
    Slabs 923  957  736  767  1,073 


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

  4Q04  3Q04  4Q03  2003  2004 

TOTAL 1,735  1,896  1,236  1,187  1,662 
    Hot rolled 1,499  1,593  894  906  1,354 
    Cold rolled 1,648  1,841  1,130  1,143  1,646 
    Galvanized 2,064  2,341  1,511  1,523  2,064 
    Tim mill products 2,009  2,220  1,719  1,705  2,020 
    Slabs 1,415  1,316  660  669  1,257 


 


 

 
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: March 1, 2005

 
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.