Seamless stainless steel tube manufacturer Nikopol Stainless Tube Mill expects world-wide production capacity of seamless tubes to be fully booked for years to come. To facilitate further growth, NSTM has already started to make investments into new production facilities. The total investment will amount to USD 60 million and will, among others, include a new hot-extrusion production line that consists of a hot-extrusion press, a piercing machine, an induction furnace for the billet preheating and an induction furnace for the billet heating. The first equipment has already been installed and the project will finish in May 2008. In addition to looking at growth, the company reports that it is geared to consolidating its current market position and strongly improve customer service. Sales volumes in Europe will not be increased significantly during 2007-2008. Both the total market for stainless steel and for seamless tubes and pipes are growing considerably, by 16.7 % and 10 % respectively in 2006. This is caused by growing demand from the main consumption industries such as chemical and petrochemical (up 3.8%), energy generation, machinery and equipment (up 10%) and oil and gas industries. Biggest growth is expected in Asia and the Middle East followed by the European market. NSTM also expects that an average growth of the Asian and other markets will provide itself and its competitors with equal opportunities to enlarge their sales and profits without significantly increasing their respective regional market shares.