Iranian steel mills produced a total of 25.1 million tons of crude steel during January-October, registering a 9% rise compared with the corresponding period of 2021, the latest data released by the World Steel Association show.
Iran's October output hit 2.9 million tons, registering a 3.5% year-on-year rise.
In terms of world ranking, Iran maintained its global standing as the world’s 10th biggest crude steelmaker.
China was the world’s largest producer during the 10-month period with 860.6 million tons of steel output, down 2.2%. It was followed by India with 103.8 million tons (up 6.1%), Japan with 75.2 million tons (down 6.5%), the United States with 68.1 million tons (down 4.8%), Russia with 60.4 million tons (down 6.6%), South Korea with 55.7 million tons (down 5%), Germany with 31.4 million tons (down 6.9%) and Turkey with 30.2 million tons (down 5.2%).
Iran is placed after Brazil (ninth) with 28.7 million tons (down 5.2%).
The world’s 64 steelmakers produced 1.55 billion tons of steel during the 10 months under review, down 3.9%. Countries located in Asia and Oceania collectively produced 1.14 billion tons of the total.
The Middle East produced 36.4 million tons of crude steel during the period, posting an increase of 7.7% compared with the same period of last year.
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 industrial associations, 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 the Worldsteel report produce 85% of global steel. These steelmakers produced 1.91 billion tons of steel last year, up 3.6%.
In 2021, countries located in Asia and Oceania collectively produced 1.38 billion tons of the total while the Middle East produced 41.2 million tons of crude steel, posting an increase of 1.2% compared with the same period of the previous year.
Iranian steel mills produced a total of 28.5 million tons of crude steel in 2021, registering a 1.8% decline compared with 2020.
MSC is the biggest steelmaker in Iran and the Middle East and North Africa region, accounting for about half of the country's steel production.
ISPA Data
Latest data released by the Iranian Steel Producers Association show Iranian steelmakers produced 18.26 million tons of semi-finished products during the first seven months of the current fiscal year (March 21-Oct. 22), 16% more than in the corresponding period of last year.
Production of billet and bloom reached an aggregate of 11.09 million tons, registering a 19% rise while that of slab reached 7.17 million tons to mark an 11% rise.
The output of finished steel increased by 15% to 12.67 million tons during the period.
Long steel products grabbed the highest share of finished steel production with 7.35 million tons, registering a 17% increase compared with the similar period of last year.
Production of rebar stood at 6.14 million tons (up 20%), beams hit 700,000 tons (up 3%) and L-beam, T-beam and other types of beams amounted to 510,000 tons (up 9%).
Flat steel reached 5.31 million tons (up 12%) while hot-rolled coil output had the biggest share of flat steel production with 5.11 million tons, marking a 10% rise. It was followed by cold-rolled coil with 1.43 million tons (up 2%) and coated coil with 881,000 tons (up 2%).
The output of direct-reduced iron stood at 20.73 million tons during the period, up 19%.
Major Producers
According to the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization, Mobarakeh Steel Company, Iran’s biggest steelmaker, produced 6.23 million tons of semi-finished products during the seven-month period, to register a 14% year-on-year rise.
The steelmaker also produced 4.76 million tons of finished steel during the period, up 10%, new data released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization show.
Located in southwestern Isfahan, Mobarakeh Steel Company is the biggest steel producer not only in Iran, but also in the Middle East and North Africa region.
In terms of semis production, MSC was followed by Khuzestan Steel Company with 2.07 million tons of output in seven months.
Esfahan Steel Company came next with 1.51 million tons and was followed by South Kaveh Steel Company with 983,960 tons, Chadormalu Steel Company with 697,724 tons and Khorasan Steel Company with 555,628 tons during the period under review.
In terms of finished products, MSC was followed by ESCO with 1.49 million tons. Other key producers of finished products were Kavir Steel Company, Oxin Steel Company, Khorasan Steel Company, Bonab Sheet Company, Azarbaijan Steel Company and Sirjan Steel Company.
MSC also topped the list of Iranian steelmakers both in semi-finished and finished steel production during the year’s seventh month (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) by producing 1.04 million tons and 661,697 tons of semis and finished steel products respectively.
Upstream Production
A total of 28.55 million tons of iron ore concentrate were produced during the period, registering a 3% decrease compared with the same period of last year, According to IMIDRO.
Golgohar Mining and Industrial Complex had the highest share of output by producing 7.38 million tons, 31% less than in the same period of last year.
Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Complex followed with 6.3 million tons (down 41%), followed by Goharzamin Iron Ore Company with 3.74 million tons (up 35%) and Middle East Mines and Mining Industries Development Holding Company with 3.38 million tons (unchanged) of output during the period under review.
Other major producers included Iran Central Iron Ore Company with 2.34 million tons (unchanged), SIMIDCO with 1.49 million tons (up 12%) and Sangan Steel Company with 1.49 million tons (up 99%).
Iron ore concentrate output during the seventh month stood at 3.82 million tons, registering a 13% decline compared with the same period of last year.
Chadormalu was the leading producer during the month, accounting for 944,678 tons of the monthly output and was followed by Golgohar with 746,383 tons of monthly output.
The pellet output of major steel mills reached 30.22 million tons during the period, posting a decline of 1% compared with the same period of the previous year.
Golgohar was again the largest producer with 6.18 million tons (down 14%), followed by Mobarakeh Steel Company with 4.35 million tons (up 3%), MIDHCO with 3.54 million tons (up 2%), Khouzestan Steel Company with 3.19 million tons (unchanged) and Sangan Khorasan Steel Company with 2.88 million tons (up 14%).
Other major pellet producers included Chadormalu with 2.21 million tons (up 6%), Goharzamin Iron Ore Company with 2.19 million tons (unchanged) and Opal Parsian Sangan with 1.85 million tons (down 11%).
Pellet production witnessed a 2% year-on-year increase during the seventh month to 5 million tons.
Golgohar had the lion’s share with 969,862 tons of pellet output in the month under review.
The production of direct reduced iron stood at 19.55 million tons during the period, up 14%.
Mobarakeh accounted for the largest share of the output with 4.67 million tons (up 14%) and was followed by KSC with 2.17 million tons (up 14%), Golgohar with 1.87 million tons (up 12%), South Kaveh Steel Company with 1.13 million tons (up 16%), Chadormalu Steel Company with 1.07 million tons (up 44%) and Saba Steel Company with 930,786 tons (up 32%).
DRI production reached 2.94 million tons during the seventh month, indicating a 13% increase.
Mobarakeh Steel Company produced 689,160 tons of DRI to lead the market in the seventh month. The company's monthly output grew by 4% compared with the previous year’s corresponding period.
DRI, also known as sponge iron, is produced from direct reduction of iron ore in the form of lumps, pellets or fines by a reducing gas. It can be processed to create wrought iron.
Iran and India are the world’s biggest producers of direct reduced iron.
