Slight Decline in Iran's Copper Concentrate Output

The National Iranian Copper Industries Company and its subsidiaries, including Sungun Complex, Miduk Complex and Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex, produced an aggregate of 589,669 tons of copper concentrate during the first six months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Sept. 22) to register a decline of 1% compared with last year’s similar period.
Production in the month ending Sept. 22 stood at 106,876 tons–unchanged year-on-year, the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization’s latest report shows.
NICICO produced 132,421 tons of copper cathode during the period, up by 15% YOY.
Copper cathode output during the sixth month reached 22,033 tons, up by 5% YOY.
A total of 3,973 tons of molybdenum were produced by NICICO during the six-month period, which indicates a 13% increase YOY.
Molybdenum output during the month to Sept. 22 totaled 706 tons, up by 10% YOY.
According to the United States Geological Survey, Iran holds the world's ninth largest copper reserves.
Exports of copper and downstream products last Iranian year (ended March 20) stood at 365,070 tons worth about $917.53 million, down by 52% in tonnage and up by 13% in value YOY.
Copper and downstream products’ imports stood at 1,870 tons worth $17.42 million, indicating a 93.3% and 90.7% decline in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Copper and downstream products were the third major mineral commodity on the list of the country’s mineral trade.