Mobarakeh Steel Company, Iran’s biggest steelmaker, produced 10.24 million tons of semi-finished products in the last Iranian year that ended on March 20, 2023, to register a 10% year-on-year rise.
The steelmaker also produced 8.14 million tons of finished steel during the period, up 5% to retain its top spot in domestic steel production, 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.
The state-owned company is located 65 km southwest of the city of Isfahan, near the city of Mobarakeh. It is one of the largest industrial complexes operating in Iran. MSC was commissioned after the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and initiated operations during 1993. It underwent major revamping in 2000.
MSC's products consist of hot- and cold-rolled sheets and coils, pickled coils, narrow strip coil, tinplate sheet and coil galvanized coil, prepainted coil and slabs that are produced according to national and international standards.
They meet the needs of automotive, home appliance, pipe making, food, chemical, medical packing, construction, transportation, naval and heavy metal equipment industries.
In terms of semis production, MSC was followed by Khuzestan Steel Company with 3.59 million tons of output in the year under review.
Esfahan Steel Company came next with 2.59 million tons of semis output and was followed by South Kaveh Steel Company with 1.54 million tons, Chadormalu Steel Company with 1.18 million tons and Sirjan Steel Company with 837,395 tons during the period under review.
In terms of finished products, MSC was followed by ESCO with 2.52 million tons. Other key producers of finished products were Oxin Steel Company, Kavir 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 12th month (Feb. 19-March 20) by producing 773,469 tons and 661,126 tons of semis and finished steel products respectively.
Annual Sales of TSE-Listed Mining Firms Near $12.5b
Tehran Stock Exchange-listed mining companies earned 6.39 quadrillion rials ($12.46 billion) in sales in the last Iranian year, registering a 10% rise compared to the year before in rial terms.
Considering the sharp devaluation of the national currency last year, the sales volume is much lower than the preceding year’s in terms of dollar.
Data released by IMIDRO show Mobarakeh Steel Company saw the highest volume of sales during the period with 1.58 quadrillion rials ($3.08 billion), up 9%.
The National Iranian Copper Industries Company followed with more than 883.29 trillion rials ($1.72 billion) in sales, up 9%.
NICICO is a leading copper producer in the Middle East and North Africa region and its mines hold close to 14% of Asia’s copper deposits and about 3% of global reserves. It was followed by Khouzestan Steel Company with 530.63 trillion rials ($1.03 billion), up 6%; Esfahan Steel Company with 451.42 trillion rials ($880.76 million), up 29%; Golgohar Steel Company with 415.78 trillion rials ($811.23 million), down 15%; and Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Company with more than 410.62 trillion rials ($801.16 million), down 10%.
The sales of mining firms during Feb. 20-March 20 hit 835.65 trillion rials ($1.63 billion), up 36% YOY.
Mobarakeh Steel Company also had the highest volume of sales during the month with 188.74 trillion rials ($368.25 million), up 54%. It was followed by NICICO with 136.87 trillion rials ($267.04 million), up 34%.
Khouzestan Steel Company came next with 76.5 trillion rials ($149.25 million), up 53%; Golgohar with 63.75 trillion rials ($124.38 million), up 165%; South Hormozgan Steel Company with 44.53 trillion rials ($86.88 million), up 161%; and Esfahan Steel Company with 44.12 trillion rials ($86.08 million), down 18%.
The IMIDRO report shows the approximate share of minerals and mining firms in the aggregate sales volume of all TSE-listed companies was 18%.
The mining firms sold 5.54 quadrillion rials ($10.8 billion) of their products in the fiscal 2021-22, registering a 71% rise compared with the year before.
The upstream steel industry registered a decline in the production of iron ore concentrate and pellet in the fiscal 2022-23 (ended March 21) compared with last year’s corresponding period, latest data released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization showed.
The IMIDRO report takes into account the output of major producers, therefore the overall production should be higher than the figures quoted here.
Upstream Production in Review
A total of 47.06 million tons of iron ore concentrate were produced during the period under review, registering a 7% decrease compared with the same period of last year, according to IMIDRO.
Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Complex had the highest share of output by producing 11.04 million tons, 9% less than the year before.
Golgohar Mining and Industrial Complex followed with 10.15 million tons (down 34%), followed by Goharzamin Iron Ore Company with 6.88 million tons (up 40%) and Middle East Mines and Mining Industries Development Holding Company with 5.5 million tons (down 5.5) of output.
Other major producers included Iran Central Iron Ore Company with 3.99 million tons (up 5%), Sangan Steel Company with 3 million tons (up 104%) and SIMIDCO with 2.58 million tons (up 104%).
Iron ore concentrate output during Feb. 20-March 20 stood at 4.12 million tons, registering a 2% decline compared with the same period of the year before.
Goharzamin was the leading producer during the month, accounting for 984,670 tons of the monthly output and Chadormalu was followed by with 952,708 tons of monthly output.
The pellet output of major steel mills reached 47.84 million tons last year, posting a decline of 6% compared with the year before.
Golgohar was the largest producer with 9.98 million tons (down 20%), followed by Mobarakeh Steel Company with 6.96 million tons (up 4%), Khouzestan Steel Company with 5.56 million tons (down 1%), MIDHCO with 5.19 million tons (down 3%) and Sangan Khorasan Steel Company with 4.05 million tons (up 1%).
Other major pellet producers included Chadormalu with 3.76 million tons (down 1%), Iran Central Iron Ore Company with 3.24 million tons (down 3%) and Goharzamin Iron Ore Company with 3.5 million tons (down 3%).
Pellet production witnessed a 3% year-on-year decrease during the 12th month to 3.98 million tons.
Golgohar had the lion’s share with 817,012 tons of pellet output in the month under review.
The production of direct reduced iron stood at 29.51 million tons last year, up 5%.
Mobarakeh accounted for the largest share of the output with 6.71 million tons (up 7%) and was followed by KSC with 3.6 million tons (up 6%), Golgohar with 2.82 million tons (unchanged), South Kaveh Steel Company with 1.75 million tons (down 1%), Chadormalu Steel Company with 1.61 million tons (up 10%) and Hormozgan Steel Company with 1.47 million tons (up 14%).
DRI production reached 2.63 million tons during the 12th month, indicating a 2% increase.
Mobarakeh Steel Company produced 541,523 tons of DRI to lead the market in the 12th month. The company's monthly output grew by 6% 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.
