Iranian steelmakers have registered higher exports although their production levels had decreased, latest data released by the Iranian Steel Producers Association show.
A total of 5.19 million tons of semi-finished steel products were exported from Iran in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (March 21-Dec. 21), up 16% compared with the previous year’s similar period.
Billet and bloom had the lion’s share of semis exports with an aggregate of 3.47 million tons, 1% higher than the previous year’s corresponding period.
Slab exports amounted to 1.72 million tons during the period, up 67% year-on-year.
Exports of finished steel products grew by 25% to 2.48 million tons during the nine months.
Rebar accounted for the largest portion of finished steel products exported from Iran during the period, with 1.77 million tons. The total volume of Iran’s rebar exports experienced a 44% growth compared with the same period of last year.
Beam exports amounted to 111,000 tons during the period under review, down 20% YOY.
About 145,000 tons of L-beam, T-beam and other types were also exported from Iran during the period, down 1% YOY.
Hot-rolled coil exports amounted to 354,000 tons, registering a 9% decline compared with the year before.
Cold-rolled coil with 15,000 tons registered a 40% decline year-on-year and coated coil with 85,000 tons, up 44% YOY, was the other finished steel product exported from Iran.
Exports of direct-reduced iron increased by 92% YOY to 869,000 tons, ISPA figures show.
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.