Semi-finished steel made up 4.37 million tons or more than 64.45% of the total export volume. Billet and bloom had the lion’s share of semis exports at 2.95 million tons to mark 48% YOY rise. Slab followed with 1.41 million tons, up 5% YOY, according to Financial Tribune.
Exports of finished steel products increased 25% YOY to reach 2.4 million tons. Long steel products had the biggest share of finished products’ exports with a total of 1.82 million tons (75.75%) to register 44% growth YOY.
Rebar was the main export in this category with 1.55 million tons, registering a 59% increase YOY, followed by L-beam, T-beam and other types with 145,000 tons (up 25% YOY) and beams with 125,000 (down 27% YOY).
Flat steel products had a 583,000-ton share in exports of finished steel products, down 11% YOY.Hot-rolled coil grabbed the biggest share in this category with 371,000 tons to register a decrease of 28% YOY.
Next was coated coil with 119,000 tons, down 2% YOY, and cold-rolled coil with 93,000 tons, up by 417% YOY. Exports of direct-reduced iron increased 77% YOY to 706,000 tons.
KSC Tops the List
With more than 1.26 million tons of exports during the 8-month period under review and 182,483 tons in the eighth month (Oct 23-Nov 21), Khouzestan Steel Company was Iran's biggest exporter.
It experienced year-on-year decline of 17% during the eight months to Nov 21 and 1% in the eighth months under review, data released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization show.
The steelmaker, in southwestern Khuzestan Province, exports to over a dozen countries. About half of KSC exports go to the Middle East and North Africa region. Its other major export destinations are in the Far East and the Americas.
Mobarakeh Steel Company (MSC), in Isfahan, was the second biggest exporter during the eight-month period as it shipped out one million tons, up 36% compared to 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 in Iran. During the eighth months of the current calendar year, MSC exported 116,103 tons to register 601% growth YOY.
Esfahan Steel Company (ESCO) came third as it exported 779,074 tons during the eight months, up 18% compared to last year's corresponding period.
During the month to November 21, ESCO exported 97,206 tons to register a YOY increase of 76%. Most of the other producers registered growth.
South Kaveh Steel Co. exported 552,100 tons of billets, up 35% YOY. It also exported 64,560 tons of direct-reduced iron, up 60% YOY. Hormozgan Steel Company exported 533,641 tons of slabs, up 7% YOY.
Khorasan Steel Co. shipped out 193,203 tons of bloom, indicating 75% growth YOY. In addition, the company exported 8,710 tons of rebar, down 84% YOY.
Chadormalou Mining and Industrial Co. exported 176,606 tons of billets during the eight months. Saba Steel Co. exported 75,839 tons of hot briquettes, up 156% YOY.
Iran Alloy Steel Co. shipped out 43,505 tons of rebar, up 17% YOY.
Bonab Steel Co. exported 28,303 tons of rebar, up 1,661% YOY, while the company exported 449 tons of ‘other’ products in the period.
From the eighth month perspective, the highest growth was registered by Iran Alloy Steel Co. as the steel mill exported 7,017 tons of rebars during the month, up by 1,495% YOY.
The steelmakers, considered as major producers in Iran, exported a total of 4.72 million tons during the eight months to register a year-on-year growth of 15%. They shipped 673,772 tons during the eighth months, which shows an 83% increase compared to the same month of the year before.
The companies exported a total of 5.54 million tons of steel during the last Iranian fiscal year (ended last March) to register a year-on-year decline of 25%.
With a total of more than 2.18 million tons of exports over 12 months, Khouzestan Steel Company was the biggest exporter last year.
49% Decline in Imports
Meanwhile, imports of all steel products declined during the eight months compared to the same time last year.
The ISPA report shows steel imports stood at a total of 364,000 tons during the eight months to November 21, to register about 49.44% decline YOY.
Import of semi-finished products was barely 3,000 tons, down 89% YOY.
This is while imports of finished steel dropped 48% to 361,000 tons.
Imports mostly included flat steel products with 296,000 tons, down 51% YOY. Coated coil was the top product in this category with 149,000 tons, down 24% YOY, followed by CRC with 91,000 tons, down 61% YOY, and HRC with 56,000 tons, down 69% YOY.
Imports of long steel products stood at 65,000 tons, indicating 25% decline YOY. L-beam, T-beam and other types topped the list in this category with 34,000 tons, down 8%, followed by rebar at 23,000 tons (down 23%) and beams with 8,000 tons (down 60%).