Iranian steel mills produced a total of 19.5 million tons of crude steel during January-August, registering a 7.8% rise compared with the corresponding period of 2021, the World Steel Association said in its latest report.
The report also shows Iran's August output hit 2.1 million tons, registering a 64.7% year-on-year rise.
In terms of world ranking, Iran maintained its global standing as the world’s 10th biggest crude steelmaker.
China was the world’s largest producer during the eight-month period with 693.2 million tons of steel output, down 5.7% YOY. It was followed by India with 83.5 million tons (up 7.1%), Japan with 60.7 million tons (down 5.2%), the United States with 54.9 million tons (down 3.7%), Russia with 48.9 million tons (down 5.8%), South Korea with 46 million tons (down 3%), Germany with 25.4 million tons (down 4.8%) and Turkey with 24.4 million tons (down 4.5%).
Iran is placed after Brazil (ninth) with 23.1 million tons (down 4.5% YOY).
The world’s 64 steelmakers produced 1.25 billion tons of steel in the eight months under review, down 5.1% YOY. Countries located in Asia and Oceania collectively produced 925.1 million tons of the total.
The Middle East produced 28.5 million tons of crude steel during the period, posting an increase of 6.9% compared with the same period of last year.
Iran's August output hit 2.1 million tons, up by 64.7% year-on-year
Crude steel is defined as steel in its first solid (or usable) form: ingots and semi-finished products (billets, blooms and slabs). This is not to be confused with liquid steel, which is steel poured.
The World Steel Association is one of the largest and most dynamic industrial associations, with members in every major steel-producing country.
Worldsteel represents steel producers, national and regional steel industry associations and steel research institutes. Members represent around 85% of global steel production.
The 64 countries included in the Worldsteel report produce 85% of global steel. These steelmakers produced 1.91 billion tons of steel last year, up 3.6% YOY.
In 2021, countries located in Asia and Oceania collectively produced 1.38 billion tons of the total while the Middle East produced 41.2 million tons of crude steel, posting an increase of 1.2% compared with the same period of the previous year.
Iranian steel mills produced a total of 28.5 million tons of crude steel in 2021, registering a 1.8% decline compared with 2020.
“The installed capacity of crude steel production in Iran exceeds 40 million tons per year,” Deputy Industries Minister Vajiollah Jafari said last year.
“The annual production of steel ingots has exceeded 30 million tons,” the official was also quoted as saying by IRNA during the 8th Steelprice Conference held in October 2021.
“Installed capacity in the domestic steel industry is about 36 million tons of direct reduced iron, 66.7 million tons of pellets and 62.7 million tons of [iron ore] concentrate, but we are still facing problems in supplying raw materials,” he added.
Jafari noted that the target capacity of 55 million tons of steel ingots is expected to be achieved by the fiscal 2025-26.
MSC is the biggest steelmaker in Iran and the Middle East and North Africa region, accounting for about half of the country's steel production.
