The upstream steel industry has registered growth in the production of iron ore concentrate, pellet and direct reduced iron during the first eight months of the current fiscal year (March 20-Nov. 20), latest data released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization show.
As only the output of major producers has been taken into account, the overall production should be higher than the figures quoted in the IMIDRO report.
Concentrate
A total of 33.16 million tons of iron ore concentrate were produced during the first eight months of the current fiscal year, marking a 5% increase compared with the same period of last year.
According to IMIDRO, Golgohar Mining and Industrial Complex had the highest share of the output by producing 11.07 million tons. A year-on-year comparison of the output indicates a 3% increase.
Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Complex came next with 7.58 million tons (up 18% YOY), followed by Middle East Mines and Mining Industries Development Holding Company with 4.25 million tons (up 22% YOY) and Goharzamin Iron Ore Company with 3 million tons (unchanged YOY) of output during the period.
Other major producers included Iran Central Iron Ore Company with 2.75 million tons (down 17% YOY), National Development Company with 1.62 million tons (up 6% YOY) and Opal Parsian Sangan with 1.54 million tons (down 23% YOY).
Sabanour Mining and Industrial Development Company recorded the highest increase in iron ore concentrate production during the eight months. The company’s output increased by 43% to reach 992,288 tons.
Iron ore concentrate output during the sixth Iranian month (Oct. 22-Nov. 20) amounted to 4.34 million tons to register a 10% growth compared with last year’s same month.
Golgohar Mining and Industrial Complex was the leading producer during the month, solely accounting for 1.5 million tons of the monthly output. Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Complex followed with 1.1 million tons of the monthly output, registering the highest increase during the month–68%.
Pellet
The pellet output of major steel mills amounted to 30.7 million tons in the eight-month period, posting a growth of 11% compared with the same period of previous year.
Golgohar was again the largest producer with 8.45 million tons (up 4% YOY), followed by Mobarakeh Steel Company with 4.95 million tons (up 10% YOY), MIDHCO with 4.35 million (up 14% YOY), Khouzestan Steel Company with 4 million tons (down 6% YOY) and Chadormalu with 2.45 million tons (up 5% YOY).
Other major pellet producers included Opal Parsian Sangan with 2.21 million tons (up 5% YOY), Sangan Mineral and Industrial Company with 2.05 million tons (up 44% YOY) and Khorasan Steel Company with 1.07 million tons (up 20% YOY).
Sangan Mineral and Industrial Company registered the largest growth in pellet output during the above-mentioned period at 44%, compared with the same period of last year.
Pellet production witnessed a 15% year-on-year increase during the eighth month to 3.89 million tons, IMIDRO’s data show.
Mobarakeh Steel Company registered the highest jump in output during the month at 77%. Chadormalu's monthly output fell by 21%, recording the sharpest decline among major producers of pellet.
Direct-Reduced Iron
The production of direct-reduced iron stood at 20.72 million tons during the eight months, up by 10% YOY. Mobarakeh accounted for the largest share of the output with 5.21 million tons (up 14% YOY), followed by KSC with 2.84 million tons (up 8% YOY), Golgohar Complex with 1.95 million tons, Hormozgan Steel Company with 1.144 million tons (up 5% YOY), South Kaveh Steel Company with 1.141 million tons (up 12% YOY), Chadormalu Steel Company with 1.05 million tons (up 4% YOY) and Saba Steel Complex with 916,275 tons (up 13% YOY).
As per the figures, Baft Steel Company recorded the highest growth in DRI output during the period, with a 63% increase compared with the same period of last year.
DRI production reached 2.6 million tons during the month ending Nov. 20, indicating an 8% growth YOY.
Mobarakeh Steel Company produced 662,530 tons of DRI to lead the market during the eighth month of the fiscal year. MSC's monthly output registered a 31% increase, year-on-year.
