Iranian steelmakers’ production volume registered growth in the last Iranian year (ended March 20, 2023) compared with the previous year, data released by the Iranian Steel Producers Association show.
They produced a total of 30.43 million tons of semi-finished products during the period, 9% more than in the previous year.
Production of billet and bloom stood at 18.74 million tons, registering a 12% rise, while slab output stood at 11.69 million tons to mark a 4% rise.
The output of finished steel increased by 10% to 21.59 million tons.
Long steel products grabbed the highest share of finished steel output with 12.53 million tons, registering a 12% increase.
The production of rebar stood at 10.39 million tons (up 14%), beams hit 1.29 million tons (up 6%) and L-beam, T-beam and other types of beams amounted to 851,000 tons (up 2%).
Flat steel production reached 9.06 million tons (up 8%) while hot-rolled coil output had the biggest share of flat steel production with 8.73 million tons, marking a 5% rise. It was followed by cold-rolled coil with 2.41 million tons (down 7%) and coated coil with 1.49 million tons (down 1%).
The output of direct-reduced iron stood at 31.73 million tons during the period, up 5%.
DRI, also known as sponge iron, is produced from the 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 DRI, also known as sponge iron.
MSC Retains Top Position
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%, 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, initiated operations during 1993 and underwent major revamping in 2000. Its 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 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 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.
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 followed 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.
