Iran's Iron Ore Concentrate, Pellet, DRI Output See Solid Growths

According to the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization’s latest report, Golgohar Mining and Industrial Complex accounted for 10.6 million tons of the total output, followed by Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Complex with 6 million tons, Iran Central Iron Ore Company with 3.55 million tons and Middle East Mines and Mining Industries Development Holding Company with 3.34 million tons.

Other producers were Goharzamin Iron Ore Company with 2.96 million tons, Opal Parsian Sangan with 1.93 million tons, National Development Company with 914,447 tons and Jalalabad Iron Ore Complex with 325,144 tons.

Pellet output hit 27.47 million tons, up 32% YOY. Golgohar was the largest producer with 7.99 million tons, followed by Mobarakeh Steel Company with 5.11 million tons, Khouzestan Steel Company with 4.13 million tons, MIDHCO with 3.35 million and Opal Parsian Sangan with 2.47 million tons.

Other producers were Chadormalu with 2.31 million tons, Sangan Mineral and Industrial Company with 1.66 million tons and Khorasan Steel Company with 422,598 tons.

Pellet production witnessed a 10% year-on-year increase during the eighth month to 3.11 million tons.

The production of direct-reduced iron stood at 16.51 million tons during the eight months under review, up 25% YOY. Mobarakeh had the lion’s share with 4.89 million tons, followed by KSC with 2.47 million tons, Hormozgan Steel Company with 1.15 million tons, South Kaveh Steel Company with 1.02 million tons, Golgohar with 946,526 tons, Khorasan Steel Company with 872,453 tons, Saba Steel Complex with 820,010 tons, Arfa Steel Company with 576,504 tons, Ghadir Iron and Steel Company with 553,162 tons and MIDHCO with 551,882 tons.

Other producers were Neyriz Steel Complex with 489,181 tons, Mianeh Steel Complex with 480,548 tons, Shadegan Steel Complex with 469,883 tons, Sabzevar Steel Company with 461,386 tons, Sefiddasht Steel Company with 356,299 tons, Saba Steel with 275,739 tons and Esfahan Steel Company with 118,125 tons.

DRI production reached 2 million tons during the month ending Nov. 21, indicating a 19% growth YOY.

Downstream Output

From the above raw materials, 13.06 million tons of slab, bloom, billet and ingots were produced during the period, marking a rise of 11% YOY. 

Mobarakeh Steel Company, with its subsidiaries Saba and Hormozgan Steel, was the biggest producer with 6.31 million tons. KSC came next with 2.51 million tons, followed by ESCO with 1.46 million tons, South Kaveh Steel Company with 679,495 tons, Khorasan Steel Company with 675,738 tons, Chadormalu Steel Company with 575,062 tons, Arfa Iron and Steel Company with 555,185 tons and Iran Alloy Steel Company with 286,190 tons.

As for output during the eighth month of the Iranian year, a total of 1.64 million tons of slab, bloom, billet and ingot were produced to register a 4% growth YOY.

During the eight months, 7.51 million tons of finished steel products, including hot and cold-rolled coils, rebar, beams, pipes, wide and galvanized sheets, were produced, which indicates a rise of 7% YOY. 

MSC and its subsidiary Saba Steel had the largest share of production with 4.56 million tons, followed by ESCO with 1.42 million tons, Oxin Steel Company with 435,545 tons, Khorasan Steel Company with 369,495 tons, Azarbaijan Steel Company with 225,740 tons, IASCO with 168,201 tons, Ahvaz Rolling and Pipe Manufacturing Company with 156,074 tons, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari Automotive Sheet Company with 145,814 tons and INSIG with 29,706 tons.

Production of finished steel products stood at 964,643 tons to see an 8% growth YOY.

Iran aims to become the world’s sixth largest steel producer as per the 20-Year Vision Plan, which targets an annual production capacity of 55 million tons and 20-25 million tons of exports per year by 2025.

According to Deputy Minister of Industries, Mining and Trade Jafar Sarqeini, Iran’s steel production capacity currently stands at 34 million tons per year.

The latest report of World Steel Association shows Iranian steel mills produced 20.6 million tons of crude steel during the first 10 months of 2018, up 19% compared with last year’s corresponding period. 

Iran’s October steel output grew 10.6% year-on-year to hit 2.07 million tons. The Middle Eastern nation has been ranked the world’s 11th biggest steel producer during the period under Worldsteel's review. 

The country is placed between Italy (10th) with 20.61 million tons and Taiwan (12th) with 19.24 million tons.

Iran’s crude steel output stood at 21.23 million tons in 2017, Worldsteel announced, up 21.4% YOY.

The country has been working to increase its iron ore processing capacity, including both DRI and hot-briquetted iron production to feed its steelmaking expansion target.