SCOTTISH-made products are making inroads into the market for heavy-duty steel used for bridges, buildings and battleships, which is dominated by imports, the Finance and Economy Secretary has been told.

Gordon MacRae, managing director of Liberty Steel Dalzell, made the remarks to Derek Mackay as he toured the Motherwell mill, which is making a comeback after being closed for a year.

He said Dalzell is now the only remaining fully UK-owned large producer of plate steel, an ultra-tough product used for demanding applications.

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“With the skill and determination of the workforce at Dalzell, we’ve begun to make real inroads into this market. We’re already reclaiming lost market share and we have big ambitions for future growth, not only at home but in key export markets also,” he said.

MacKay added: “We are committed to doing as much as we can to increase the industry’s ability to compete in global markets.”