Iran Steel Industry Players Warm Up to ISMC 2020

EghtesadOnline: Donya-e-Eqtesad Media Group hosted experts and officials from the Iranian steel industry on Tuesday, for the second preparatory meeting prior to the upcoming 10th Iranian Steel Market Conference, also known as "ISMC 2020".

News ID: ۷۸۵۰۹۱

04 December 2019

Attendees at the Tuesday meeting included the host, Managing Director of Donya-e-Eqtesad media Group, Alireza Bakhtiari, Deputy Industries Minister Jafar Sarqeini, President of the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization Khodadad Gharibpour, the head of Iran's Mine House, Mohammad Reza Bahraman, and the head of Foolad Technic International Engineering Company, Mohammad Abka.

They exchanged notes and made proposals for the agenda of the two-day annual event.

The suggested themes of the 10th iteration of ISMC 2020 include:

* Monitoring Iran's Comprehensive Steel Plan as per the current conditions;

* Exports in the face of domestic and international challenges, taking advantage of barter trade;

* Domestic sales, mercantile exchange, problems and solutions;

* Operational plan for the revival of small mines;

* Localization and promotion of steel production;

* The impact of energy, water, environmental issues and circular economy on the productivity of steel and iron ore industries; and

* Productivity, innovation and technology; effective and efficient communications between the industry and university.

ISMC 2020 has been scheduled to be held at the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting’s International Conference Center in Tehran on Jan. 21-22.

The latest report released by the World Steel Association shows Iranian steel mills produced about 21.51 million tons of crude steel during the first 10 months 2019 (January to October), which indicates a 6.2% rise compared with the corresponding period of 2018.

The country's October output grew 7.5% year-on-year to hit 2.2 million tons, according to the Brussels-based international trade body for the iron and steel industry.

Iran’s world ranking remains unchanged compared to Worldsteel's previous monthly report: the 10th biggest global crude steel producer.

The country is placed between Brazil (ninth) with 27.21 million tons of production and Italy (11th) with 19.84 million tons, the new report shows.

The world’s 64 steelmakers produced a total of 1.54 billion tons of steel over the 10-month period, up 3.2% YOY.

Global steel output stood at 151.62 million tons in October, indicating a 2.7% decrease YOY.

China was the world’s largest crude steel producer with 829.21 million tons of steel output, up 7.4% YOY.

The country was followed by India with 93.3 million tons, Japan with 83.79 million tons, the United States with 73.53 million tons, South Korea with 60.12 million tons, Russia with 59.34 million tons, Germany with 34.01 million tons and Turkey with 27.97 million tons.

Iran’s crude steel output stood at 24.52 million tons in 2018, according to Worldsteel, up 17.7% YOY.

Crude steel is defined as steel in its first solid (or usable) form: ingots and semi-finished products (billets, blooms and slabs). This is not to be confused with liquid steel, which is steel poured.

The latest Worldsteel report shows global direct-reduced iron output increased 4.1% year-on-year to 75.75 million tons during the 10 months to October 31.

Global DRI output in October stood at 7.36 million tons to register a 5% decline YOY.

Production for 2018 grew 11.6% year-on-year to 84.3 million tons.

Iran was the second biggest producer in the world with 24 million tons of DRI production during the 10 months under review to register a 14.4% year-on-year growth.

Iran’s October DRI output grew 3.3% YOY to hit 2.48 million tons.

The country produced a total of 25.54 million tons of DRI in 2018, up 31.6% YOY.

India, Iran's primary rival in DRI output, increased its production by 6.1% YOY to 30.05 million tons.

The largest decrease was in Libya, where output decreased 50.5% YOY to 456,000 tons.

Iran aims to become the world’s sixth largest steel producer as per the 20-Year Vision Plan, which targets annual production capacity expansion to 55 million tons and 20-25 million tons of exports per year by 2025. Iranian steel mills have so far realized 34 million tons of the capacity target.

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.

According to Deputy Industries Minister Khodadad Gharibpour, Iranian steel industry is an export-oriented one that exports more than 40% of its steel output.