Iranian steel mills produced 20.4 million tons of crude steel in the first eight months of 2021, registering a 9.7% rise compared with the corresponding period of 2020.
According to the latest report released by the World Steel Association, Iran's August output stood at 2.5 million tons, up 8.7% year-on-year.
The report ranks Iran the world’s 10th biggest crude steel producer.
China was the world’s largest crude steel producer in the eight-month period with 733 million tons of steel output, up 5.3% YOY.
It was followed by India with 77.7 million tons (up 25.6%), Japan with 64 million tons (up 17%), the United States with 57.1 million tons (up 19.5%), Russia with 50.8 million tons (up 7.7%), South Korea with 47.5 million tons (up 8.4%), Germany with 26.7 million tons (up 17.4%) and Turkey with 26.6 million tons (up 16.7%).
Iran is placed after Brazil (ninth) with 24.1 million tons, 20.9% higher than the corresponding period of 2020.
The rise in Iran’s steel production, as reported by Worldsteel, came as the industry grappled with power restrictions due to shortage of electricity amid record high summer demand.
The world’s 64 steelmakers produced a total of 1.32 billion tons of steel over the eight months under review, up 10.6% YOY. States located in Asia and Oceania collectively produced 966.3 million tons of the total.
The Middle East produced 29 million tons of crude steel in the eight months under review, posting an increase of 10.1% compared with the same period of last year.
Global steel output also experienced a 1.4% decline in August to 156.8 million tons.
World's major steel producers seem to have recovered their output in 2021 after the global closure of businesses and disruption in industrial operations, as a result of Covid-19 spread in early 2019.
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 industry associations in the world, 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 this table represent 85% of global steel production.
Iranian steel mills produced a total of 29.02 million tons of crude steel in 2020, which indicate a 13.35% rise compared with 2019, the highest growth in output among the world's top 10 producers.
Jump in Exports
In line with the rise in production, Iranian steel mills have also boosted exports at even higher rates.
According to the latest data released by the Iranian Steel Producers Association, a total of 3.08 million tons of semi-finished steel products were exported from Iran in the five months to Aug. 22, up 39% compared with the previous year’s similar period.
Billet and bloom had the lion’s share of semis exports with an aggregate of 2.05 million tons, 16% higher than the previous corresponding period.
Slab exports amounted to 1.03 million tons during the period, up 128% year-on-year.
Exports of finished steel products jumped by 88% to 1.39 million tons during the five months under review.
Rebar accounted for the largest portion of finished steel products exported from Iran during the period, with 1.01 million tons. The total volume of Iran’s rebar exports experienced a 99% growth compared with the same period of last year.
Beam exports amounted to 52,000 tons during the period under review, down 7% YOY.
About 72,000 tons of L-beam, T-beam and other types were also exported from Iran during the period, recording a 26% rise YOY.
Hot-rolled coil exports amounted to 215,000 tons, registering a 162% growth compared with the year before.
Cold-rolled coil with 3,000 tons, registered an 81% decline year-on-year.
Coated coil with 47,000 tons, up 81% YOY, was the other finished steel products exported from Iran.
Exports of direct-reduced iron increased by 190% YOY to 490,000 tons, ISPA figures show.
Imports of finished steel increased by 1% YOY to 338,000 tons during the same period. The imports mostly included HRC with 58,000 tons, down 55%; CRC with 146,000 tons, up 62%; coated coil with 99,000, up 15%; L-beam, T-beam and other types with 15,000 tons, unchanged YOY; rebar with 13,000 tons, up 8% and beam with 7,000 tons, up 40%.
Imports of semi-finished steel made up 2,000 tons of the total import volume, down 33% YOY. Iran imported 1,000 tons of billet and bloom in the period, down 50% YOY. Slab imports stood at 1,000 tons, unchanged from last year's same period.
