KSC Tops Steel Exports With 1.2 Million Tons in 8 Months

EghtesadOnline: With a total of 1.26 million tons of exports during the first eight months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Nov. 21) and 182,483 tons in the eighth month (Oct. 23-Nov. 21), Khouzestan Steel Company was Iran's biggest exporter.

News ID: ۷۸۵۱۴۱

18 December 2019

The mill experienced year-on-year declines of 17% in exports during the eight months and 1% in the eighth month under review, latest data released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization show.

The steelmaker, located in the southwestern Khuzestan Province, exports to over a dozen countries.

About half of KSC's exports goes to the Middle East and North Africa. Its other major export destinations are located in the Far East and the Americas, according to Financial Tribune.

Mobarakeh Steel Company, located in Isfahan, was the second biggest exporter during the eight-month period as it shipped out 1 million tons of products, up 36% compared with last year's corresponding period.

The company is the largest steelmaker in the Middle East and North Africa and one of the largest industrial complexes operating in Iran.

During the eighth month of the current Iranian year, MSC exported 116,103 tons abroad, to register a 601% growth YOY.

Esfahan Steel Company (ESCO) ranked third as it exported 779,074 tons during the eight months, up 18% compared with last year's corresponding period.

During the month to Nov. 21, ESCO exported 97,206 tons to register a YOY increase of 76%.

Most producers registered growth during the eight months.

South Kaveh Steel Company exported 552,100 tons of billets, up 35% YOY. The company also exported 64,560 tons of direct-reduced iron in the eight months, up 60% YOY.

Hormozgan Steel Company exported 533,641 tons of slabs, up 7% YOY.

Khorasan Steel Company shipped out 193,203 tons of bloom, indicating a 75% growth YOY. In addition, the company exported 8,710 tons of rebar, down 84% YOY.

Chadormalou Mining and Industrial Company exported 176,606 tons of billets during the eight months.

Saba Steel Company exported 75,839 tons of hot briquettes, up 156% YOY.

Iran Alloy Steel Company shipped out 43,505 tons of rebar, up 17% YOY.

Bonab Steel Company exported 28,303 tons of rebar, up 1,661% YOY, while the company exported 449 tons of “other products” during the period.

From the eighth month perspective, the highest growth was registered by Iran Alloy Steel Company as the steel mill exported 7,017 tons of rebars during the month, up by 1,495% YOY.

The above steelmakers, considered as major producers in Iran, exported a total of 4.72 million tons during the eight months under review to register a year-on-year growth of 15%.

They shipped out 673,772 tons during the eighth month of the year, which shows an 83% increase compared with the same month of the year before.

The Iran Steel Producers Association will release a more comprehensive report on Iran's steel exports in a few days, which also includes data for small-scale steel mills.

The above-mentioned steelmakers exported 5.54 million tons of steel during the last Iranian year (ended March 20, 2019) to register a year-on-year decline of 25%.

With a total of 2.18 million tons of exports over the 12 months, Khouzestan Steel Company was Iran's biggest steel exporter last year.

Total Output at 30.98m Tons in 8 Months

Iranian steelmakers produced an aggregate of 30.98 million tons of semis and finished steel products from March 21 to Nov. 21 to register a 5.82% year-on-year increase.

According to the Iranian Steel Producers Association's latest report, semi-finished steel made up 17.42 million tons of the total output, up 5% YOY.

Billet and bloom made up 10.25 million tons of semi-finished production while slab output hit 7.17 million tons to register an 11% rise and a 3% decline respectively YOY.

As for finished steel, the output increased 7% YOY to 13.55 million tons.

Flat steel products had the lion's share of finished steel production with 6.8 million tons, up 4% YOY. HRC comprised 5.71 million tons of the production in this category, registering a 3% growth YOY, followed by CRC with 1.71 million tons (up 4% YOY) and coated coil with 1.09 million tons (up 20% YOY).

Long steel products had a share of 6.75 million tons in the output of finished steel products, posting a 9% rise YOY. Rebar had a major share with 5.45 million tons (up 9% YOY), followed by beams with 740,000 tons (up 22% YOY) and L-beam, T-beam and other types with 556,000 tons (up 9% YOY).

Direct-reduced iron production stood at 18.55 million tons during the eight-month period, indicating a 7% rise YOY.

According to World Steel Association's latest data, Iran is the 10th biggest producer of steel in the world as it produced a total of 21.51 million tons of crude steel during the 10 months of 2019 (January to October), up 6.2% compared with the corresponding period of 2018.

Iran is aggressively pursuing the target of becoming the world’s sixth largest steel producer as per the 20-Year Vision Plan, which targets an 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 about 34 million tons of the capacity target.

According to Chairman of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Khodadad Gharibpour, Iranian steel industry is an export-oriented one that exports more than 40% of its steel output.