At least 1.3 million metric tons of iron ore pellets, worth $235.8 million, have been imported during the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (to end March 20), indicating a massive 1345% increase compared to the similar period last year, reported Fooladnews based on the latest statistics released by Iran’s Customs Administration.
One of the most serious challenges faced by the domestic steel sector is the shortage of iron ore pellets, which is a key raw material in producing steel.
Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade, Mohammad-Reza Nematzadeh, earlier said that there was a shortage of at least 6 million metric tons of iron ore pellets per year.
This is while, according to the 2025 Vision Plan, Iran should annually produce between 52 and 55 million metric tons of steel.
