Iran's apparent steel usage registered growth for finished and semi-finished steel products in the second month of the current fiscal year (April 21-May 21) compared with last year's corresponding period.
The apparent usage totaled 3.58 million tons for finished products, posting a 12% year-on-year increase, the Iranian Steel Producers Association reported.
Apparent steel usage is defined as production plus imports minus exports, sometimes also adjusted for changes in inventories.
Flat steel products accounted for the largest portion of finished steel consumption with 1.84 million tons of finished steel apparent usage, up 10% YOY.
Among flat steel products, hot-rolled coil had the biggest share of apparent usage with 1.74 million tons (up 8% YOY), followed by cold-rolled coil with 426,000 tons (down 12% YOY) and coated coil with 271,000 tons (up 7% compared with the same period of last year).
Long steel products accounted for 1.74 million tons, up 15% YOY.
Rebar grabbed the biggest share in this section with 1.39 million tons, up 15% YOY, followed by beams with 202,000 tons (up 12% YOY) and L-beam, T-beam and other types with 144,000 tons (up 23% compared with the same period of last fiscal year).
The apparent usage stood at 4.82 million tons for semi-finished products, registering a 4% rise compared with last year's corresponding period.
The use of slab increased by 15% to 2.24 million tons during the period. The apparent usage of billet and bloom stood at 2.58 million tons, down 4% compared with the same period of last year.
Direct-reduced iron usage stood at 6.54 million tons during the period under review, up 13% YOY.
Iran is the world’s 10th biggest producer of crude steel.
