Iranian aluminum producers had an aggregate output of 246,666 tons of aluminum ingots during the first 11 months of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2019-Feb. 19), which indicates a 13% decrease compared with last year's corresponding period, the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization's latest report shows.
Flagship producer Iran Aluminum Company (IRALCO) accounted for 161,587 tons of the total output, posting a 2% growth year-on-year.
Following were Hormozal Aluminum Company with 39,312 tons, down 48% YOY; Almahdi Aluminum Company with 37,635 tons, down 26% YOY; and Iran Alumina Company with 8,132 tons.
Aluminum production during the month to Feb. 19 stood at 25,444 tons to witness a rise of 46% YOY.
Iran Alumina Company produced 214,012 tons of alumina powder during the 11 months, down 1% YOY.
Alumina powder output during the month to Feb. 19 amounted to 20,667 tons, down by 1% compared with last year’s similar period.
The combined nominal capacity of Iran's aluminum producers, namely IRALCO located in Arak (Markazi Province), Almahdi located in Bandar Abbas (Hormozgan Province), Hormozal also in Bandar Abbas and Jajarm Aluminum Complex located in Jajarm County (North Khorasan Province), stands at 468,000 tons per year.
IRALCO accounts for 175,000 tons of the total followed by Hormozal with 143,000 tons, Almahdi with 110,000 tons and Jajarm with 40,000 tons.
Iran produced around 300,000 tons of aluminum in the last fiscal year (March 2018-19).
Jajarm Aluminum Complex became operational in July 2019 with an investment of $150 million, creating 400 direct and 1,600 indirect jobs.
According to Industries Minister Reza Rahmani, Jajarm Aluminum Complex fulfills 30% of Iran’s domestic demand.
Currently, per capita aluminum consumption in the world is about 9 kilograms.
The US and Canada are the biggest aluminum consumers in the world at present with a per capita consumption of 23 and 27 kilograms respectively.
Iran’s aluminum industry’s biggest challenge currently revolves around supplying raw materials, including alumina and petroleum coke. Not having access to raw materials due to sanctions and also having to purchase them at prices much higher than the global rates are issues facing producers.
Connecting aluminum production units to railroads and exploring new bauxite mines in the country can help reduce costs in this industry.
The Iranian Mines & Mining Industries Development & Renovation Organization and Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters signed an agreement recently to establish an alumina production unit with a capacity of 70,000 tons in Sarab County, East Azarbaijan Province.
According to IMIDRO Chairman Khodadad Gharibpour, the organization will invest €137 million in the project, ILNA reported.
