Iranian steelmakers produced a total of 6.31 million tons of semi-finished products during the first two months of the current fiscal year (March 21-May 21), 7.4% more than in the previous year’s corresponding period, the Iranian Steel Producers Association said in a new report.
Production of billet and bloom stood at 3.85 million tons, registering a 12.9% year-on-year increase. Slab output stood at 2.46 million tons to register a 0.2% fall.
The output of finished steel increased by 3.6% to 3.93 million tons. Long steel products grabbed the highest share of finished steel output with 2.18 million tons, registering a 7.8% rise.
The production of rebar stood at 1.76 million tons (up 6.3%), beams hit 260,000 tons (up 22.6%) and L-beam, T-beam and other types of beams amounted to 163,000 tons (up 3.8%).
Flat steel production reached 1.74 million tons (down 1.4%) while hot-rolled coil output had the biggest share of flat steel production with 1.69 million tons, marking a 0.2% decrease. It was followed by cold-rolled coil with 444,000 tons (up 7.5%) and coated coil with 294,000 tons (up 14%).
The output of direct reduced iron stood at 6.72 million tons during the period, up 2.8%.
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.
According to ISPA, Iranian steelmakers produced a total of 30.43 million tons of semi-finished products in the fiscal 2022-23 (ended March 20), 9% more than in the previous year.
Production of billet and bloom stood at 18.74 million tons, registering a 12% rise. 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.
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 tons (down 1%).
The output of direct-reduced iron stood at 31.73 million tons during the period, up 5%.
Mobarakeh Steel Company is the biggest steelmaker in Iran and the Middle East and North Africa region, accounting for about half of the country's steel production.
The state-owned company is located 65 km southwest of the city of Isfahan, near the city of Mobarakeh in Isfahan Province. It is one of the largest industrial complexes operating in Iran.
MSC was commissioned after the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979 and initiated operations during 1993. It underwent major revamping during the 2000s.
MSC's products consist of hot- and cold-rolled sheets and coils, narrow strip coil, tinplate sheet, galvanized coil, pre-painted coil and slab produced according to national and international standards.
These products meet the needs of various industries, such as automotive, home appliances, pipe making, pressure vessels, food, chemical and medical packing, construction, transportation, naval industries and metal equipment.
Worldsteel Data on Crude Steel Output
Latest data released by the World Steel Association show A total of 9.7 million tons of crude steel was produced in Iran during the first four months of 2023, registering a 0.1% year-on-year rise.
Iran's April output hit 3.1 million tons, registering a 5.9% YOY rise — the biggest among the top 10 producers in the world.
In terms of world ranking, Iran came in the world’s 10th biggest crude steelmaker after losing its position in March.
China was the world’s largest producer during the four months under review with 354.4 million tons (4.1% rise). It was followed by India with 43.9 million tons (up 3%), Japan with 28.9 million tons (down 5.3%), the United States with 26.1 million tons (down 4.1%), Russia with 25.1 million tons (down 0.6%), South Korea with 22.4 million tons (down 0.4%), Germany with 12.4 million tons (down 5.9%) and Brazil with 10.6 million tons (down 8.8%).
Iran was placed after Turkey (ninth) with 10.1 million tons (down 21.3%).
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.
Iranian steel mills produced a total of 30.6 million tons of crude steel in 2022, registering an 8% rise compared with 2021.
