Semi-finished steel made up 4.02 million tons or 68.18% of the total export volume, up 43% YOY.
Billet and bloom had the lion’s share of semis exports with an aggregate of 2.96 million tons to mark an 88% rise YOY. Slab followed with 1.05 million tons, down 15% YOY.
Exports of finished steel products increased 37% YOY to reach 1.87 million tons, according to Financial Tribune.
Long steel products had the biggest share of finished products exports with a total of 1.39 million tons (74.52%) to register a 67% growth YOY.
Rebar was the main exported product in this category with 1.2 million tons, registering a 89% increase YOY, followed by L-beam, T-beam and other types with 107,000 tons (up 45% YOY) and beams with 90,000 (down 30% YOY).
Flat steel products had a 478,000-ton share in finished steel exports, down 10% YOY.
Hot-rolled coil grabbed the lion’s share in this category with 297,000 tons to register a decrease of 30% YOY.
Next was coated coil with 105,000 tons, up 18% YOY, and cold-rolled coil with 76,000 tons, up by 407% YOY.
According to data released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization, with a total of 1 million tons of exports in H1 and 113,835 tons in the sixth fiscal month (Aug. 23-Sept. 22), Khouzestan Steel Company was Iran's biggest steel exporter during the period.
The mill experienced a year-on-year decline of 16% in exports during the six months to Sept. 22, but registered a growth of 30% in the sixth month, IMIDRO’s latest data show.
The steelmaker, located in the southwestern Khuzestan Province, exports to over a dozen countries.
About half of KSC's exports go to the Middle East and North Africa region. Its other major export destinations are located in the Far East and the Americas.
Mobarakeh Steel Company, located in Isfahan, was the second biggest exporter that shipped out 752,885 tons of products during the six months under review, up 13% compared with last year's corresponding period.
The company is the largest steelmaker in the MENA region and one of the largest industrial complexes operating in Iran.
During the sixth fiscal month, MSC exported 159,811 tons to register a staggering 160% hike YOY.
Esfahan Steel Company (ESCO) ranked third by exporting 567,215 tons during the six months, unchanged compared with last year's corresponding period.
During the month to Sept. 22, ESCO exported 102,875 tons to register a YOY decrease of 1%.
South Kaveh Steel Company exported 409,100 tons of billet, up 45% YOY, while Chadormalou Mining and Industrial Company exported 124,498 tons of the product during the six months.
Hormozgan Steel Company exported 370,018 tons of slabs, down 11% YOY.
Khorasan Steel Company shipped out 127,149 tons of bloom, indicating a 41% growth YOY. In addition, the company exported 4,491 tons of rebar, down 90% YOY.
South Kaveh Steel Company exported 54,960 tons of direct-reduced iron, up 36% YOY.
Iran Alloy Steel Company shipped out 30,548 tons of rebar, down 15% YOY.
Saba Steel Company exported 24,987 tons of hot-briquetted iron, down 16% YOY, while Bonab Steel Company exported 21,190 tons of rebar, up 1,219% YOY.
From the sixth month perspective, the highest growth was registered by Iran Alloy Company that exported 9,994 tons of products during the month, up by 168% YOY.
60% Decline in Imports
Imports of almost all steel products declined during the six-month period under review compared with last year’s same period.
The ISPA report shows steel imports stood at 229,000 tons during the six months to register a 60.03% decline YOY.
Import of semi-finished products amounted to only 2,000 tons during H1, down 93% YOY.
This is while imports of finished steel dropped 58% YOY to 227,000 tons. Imports mostly included flat steel products with 178,000 tons, down 62% YOY. Coated coil was the top product in this category with 87,000 tons, down 43% YOY, followed by CRC with 59,000 tons, down 66% YOY, and HRC with 32,000 tons, down 77% YOY.
Imports of long steel products stood at 49,000 tons, indicating a 38% decline YOY. L-beam, T-beam and other types topped the list in this category with 26,000 tons, down 37% YOY, followed by beams with 17,000 tons (down 19% YOY) and rebar with 6,000 tons (down 65% YOY).