Iranian steel mills produced a total of 21.51 million tons of crude steel during the first 10 months of 2019 (January to October), which indicates a 6.2% rise compared with the corresponding period of 2018, the latest report released by the World Steel Association shows.
The country's October output grew 7.5% year-on-year to hit 2.2 million tons, according to the Brussels-based international trade body for the iron and steel industry.
Iran’s world ranking remains unchanged compared to Worldsteel's previous monthly report: the world’s 10th biggest crude steel producer.
The country is placed between Brazil (ninth) with 27.21 million tons of production and Italy (11th) with 19.84 million tons, the new report shows.
The world’s 64 steelmakers produced a total of 1.54 billion tons of steel over the 10 months, up 3.2% YOY.
Global steel output stood at 151.62 million tons in October, indicating a 2.7% decrease YOY.
China was the world’s largest crude steel producer with 829.21 million tons of steel output, up 7.4% YOY. It was followed by India with 93.3 million tons, Japan with 83.79 million tons, the United States with 73.53 million tons, South Korea with 60.12 million tons, Russia with 59.34 million tons, Germany with 34.01 million tons and Turkey with 27.97 million tons.
Iran’s crude steel output stood at 24.52 million tons in 2018, according to Worldsteel, up 17.7% YOY.
Iran was the second biggest DRI producer in the world with 24 million tons of production during the 10 months to register a 14.4% year-on-year growth
Crude steel is defined as steel in its first solid (or usable) form: ingots, semi-finished products (billets, blooms and slabs). This is not to be confused with liquid steel, which is steel poured.
The latest Worldsteel report shows global direct-reduced iron output increased 4.1% year-on-year to 75.75 million tons during the 10 months to Oct. 31.
Global DRI output in October stood at 7.36 million tons to register a 5% decline YOY.
Production for 2018 grew 11.6% year-on-year to 84.3 million tons.
Iran was the second biggest producer in the world with 24 million tons of DRI production during the period under review to register a 14.4% YOY growth.
Iran’s October DRI output grew 3.3% YOY to hit 2.48 million tons.
The country produced a total of 25.54 million tons of DRI in 2018, up 31.6% YOY.
India, Iran's primary rival in DRI output, increased its production by 6.1% YOY to 30.05 million tons.
The largest decrease was in Libya, where output decreased 50.5% YOY to 456,000 tons.
Iran aims to become the world’s sixth largest steel producer as per the 20-Year Vision Plan, which targets annual production capacity expansion to 55 million tons and 20-25 million tons of exports per year by 2025. Iranian steel mills have so far realized 34 million tons of the capacity target.
The country has been working to increase its iron ore processing capacity, including both DRI and hot-briquetted iron production, to feed its steelmaking expansion target.
According to Chairman of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization Khodadad Gharibpour, Iranian steel industry is an export-oriented one that exports more than 40% of its steel production.
