Iran’s crude steel output up 9.6% in March-October 2012

Iran produced 8.73 million tonnes of crude steel in the first seven months of the Iranian year, which started on March 20, according to the head of the Iranian Mines & Mining Industries Development & Renovation Organisation (Imidro).

Paragraph entered by Atlantic migration, in order for SteelFirst articles to display correctly on Metal Bulletin.

This output represented a 9.6% increase year-on-year, Imidro chief Fereydoon Ahmadi said. The country produced 7.96 million tonnes of crude steel in the first seven months of the previous Iranian year, he added.

Iran can achieve production of about 15 million tonnes in the current year if this rate of output is maintained. However, the country would still face a shortage of 6-7 million tonnes, which would have to be made up from imports.

Growth in local production is intended to compensate for reduced imports, a consequence of the tightening of the international trade sanctions imposed on Iran.

In line with their policy of increased production, the Iranian authorities recently prohibited exports of 50 metals-sector materials including steel billet, aluminium billet, and copper cathode and wire.

Iran laid out ambitious plans to develop the country’s steel industry over the past decade, when the rising price of oil encouraged the authorities to increase investment.

A series of mini-mill construction projects were begun around the country. There are now more than 20 steel plants being built by the government, semi-government and private sectors.

Once in full production, these plants will double Iran’s crude steel capacity. However, progress is slow due to a shortage of financial resources as well as the effects of the trade sanctions.

China may prove to be a good source for imports of equipment for steel plants, as European plant makers have withdrawn from the Iranian market.

But China has not yet played an effective role in the development of the Iranian steel industry. Construction of a meltshop for the Arfa Steel plant in Ardakan– a mini-mill of 800,000 tpy capacity – was awarded to Chinese contractors a few years ago but the plant has still not been completed.

What to read next
Following an initial consultation with the market, Fastmarkets is proposing to:  The new specifications would be as follows, with amendments in italics: MB-CU-0002 Copper grade 1 cathode premium, ddp Midwest US, US cents/lb Quality: Grade A 99.9935% min copper cathode conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:2022 – Cu-CATH-1 or Grade 1 Electrolytic Copper Cathode ATSM B1115-10 Quantity: Min […]
Fastmarkets’ 2025 outlook for key raw materials and ingredients used in the production and distribution of fast-moving consumer goods.
Vale Base Metals plans to boost annual copper production to 700,000 tonnes by 2035, aiming to become a top-five global producer of nickel and copper. CEO Shaun Usmar highlights a focus on productivity, cost optimization and sustainable growth. With strong assets in Canada and Brazil, Vale is well-positioned to meet rising global demand.
Fastmarkets has corrected its fob Australia alumina index, which was published incorrectly on Monday June 2 and Tuesday June 3 due to a back-end calculation error. Fastmarkets has also corrected all the related inferred indices. On June 2 the following prices were published incorrectly: Fastmarkets’ MB-ALU-0002 Alumina index, fob Australia, was published in error as $375.59 per […]
Mexico’s strategic role in automotive nearshoring is fueling demand for recycled aluminium, with investment in scrap-intensive sectors boosting its non-ferrous secondary markets. Despite tariff uncertainties, USMCA compliance and EV production growth continue to attract global manufacturers.
Goldcorp founder Rob McEwen is back in the spotlight with a bold bet on copper in Argentina. The $2.5 billion Los Azules project, set to become Argentina’s first major copper mine in over 30 years, is reshaping the country’s mining industry while raising sustainability standards. Positioned as a key player in addressing a global copper shortage, the project highlights innovation, persistence and a commitment to meeting the growing demand from global electrification.