Iran ups steel production by 10.6%

Crude steel production increased by 10.6% in the first eight months of the Iranian year, according to the chief of the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO).A total of 9.044 million tons of crude steel was produced by public and private sector steelmakers between March 20 and November 21, up from 8.178 million tons in the corresponding first eight months of Iran\'s 2010 year, Khodamorad Ahmadi announced. Also, an earlier report by the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO) announced in November that Iran has produced one million tons of steel more in the first 7 months of the current Iranian year (March 21-October 22, 2011) compared with the same period last year. The report said the country has produced around 8 million tons of crude steel during the first seven months of the current Iranian year which indicates a significant growth compared to the figure for the same period last year which was 7 million tons. The amount of steel produced by private companies during the period reached 702,000 tons showing 53% rise compared to the figure for the same 7 month period of last year, the report added. According to the report, private companies manufactured some 30% of total steel products during the period. Mobarakeh Steel Company produced 3.219 million tons, National Iranian Steel Company 1.991 million tons and Isfahan Steel Mill 1.558 million tons of steel products during the period to stand first to third in the country respectively. According to another report by IMIDRO, the country increased export of crude steel and steel products by 64% in the first half of the current year. Iranian steel companies exported about USD 264.4 million worth of steel products during the period, while the figure for the same months last year was USD 161 million. During the period, around 658,000 tons of steel products were exported. Export of round bar and iron beam indicated growths of 188% and 140% respectively during the period. According to the World Steel Association, Iran was the second leading steel producer in the Middle East in 2010 after Turkey. The main steel mills of the country are located in Isfahan and Khuzestan provinces. Major raw steel producers of the Islamic Republic include Mobarakeh Steel Mills, with approximately 47% of the market share, Khuzestan Steel Company with about 23%, Isfahan Foundry with about 20% and Iran National Steel Industries Group with approximately 10% of the market share.