The northwestern East Azarbaijan Province is the third biggest steel producer in Iran after Isfahan and Khuzestan, according to the provincial Industry, Mine, and Trade Organization. As Mehr News Agency reported, 70 permits have been issued for steel manufacturing companies in the province and if all of them succeed in producing steel, Azarbaijan’s steel output will jump to 21 million tons per year from the current 6 million. The steel sector in East Azarbaijan accounts for the biggest private sector investment nationwide as the private sector is behind 85% of the steel manufactured in the province. Currently, there are 20 steel production facilities active in East Azarbaijan, accounting for 20% of the total steel output.
