MSC Remains Leading Producer

MSC produced 7.56 million tons of semi-finished steel products during the first nine months of the current fiscal year (March 20-Dec. 20, 2020).

The mill's semi-finished output was 7% higher than the first nine months of the previous fiscal year. 

The company’s output during the ninth month of the current fiscal year (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) increased by 8% to reach 873,665 tons.

MSC and its subsidiary Saba Steel produced 6.04 million tons of finished steel during Q1-3. 

Located in southwestern Isfahan, Mobarakeh Steel Company is the biggest steel producer in Iran and the Middle East and North Africa region.

In terms of semis production, MSC was followed by Khuzestan Steel Company with 2.91 million tons of output during the nine months under review. The number indicates a growth rate of 4% compared with the same period of last year.

KSC’s semi-finished output increased by 6% in the ninth month of the year to 328,606 tons. 

Esfahan Steel Company followed with 1.73 million tons of bloom output during the nine months, marking a decline of 3% year-on-year.  The company's monthly output of semis dropped by 5% to 184,878 tons.

South Kaveh Steel Company with 962,282 tons (up 8% YOY), Chadormalu Steel Company with 745,470 tons (down 1% YOY) and Khorasan Steel Company with 741,521 tons (down 14% YOY) were the other main producers of semi-finished steel products during the nine months to Dec. 20. 

South Kaveh Steel Company ranked fourth in terms of monthly semi-finished steel output during the month to Dec. 20. The company’s output stood at 139,560 tons during the one-month period, up 34%. Chadormalu Steel Company followed with 93,249 tons of semis output during the month under review, marking a 7% increase YOY.

The heavyweight Iranian steel mills surveyed by IMIDRO collectively produced 17.13 million tons of semi-finished products in the first three quarters of the current fiscal year, recording an 8% growth year-on-year. 

A total of 2 million tons of semi-finished steel were produced by these mills during the ninth month of the fiscal year, up 9% year-on-year.

In terms of finished steel production, MSC was followed by ESCO with 1.69 tons (unchanged compared with the same period of last year).

Other key producers of finished products were Khorasan Steel Company, Bonab Sheet Company, Ahvaz Rolling and Pipe Manufacturing Company, Azarbaijan Steel Company, Sirjan Steel Company and INSIG. 

A total of 11.27 million tons of finished steel products, including hot- and cold-rolled coils, rebar, beams, pipes, wide and galvanized sheets, were produced by the above-mentioned heavyweights during the first nine months of the fiscal year, up 5% YOY. 

Heavyweights' output of finished steel products amounted to 1.07 million tons in the ninth fiscal month to register a 2% YOY growth.

The IMIDRO report only takes into account the production of major steelmakers.

The report will soon be followed by another by the Iranian Steel Producers Association, which will give an account of production by all Iranian steel mills.

Production Capacity Nears 40m Tons p.a.

The aggregate annual capacity of Iranian steel companies has reached 39.82 million tons, according to new data released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization.

Presently, 84 steel mills are operating in Iran.

Mobarakeh Steel Company, Iran’s biggest steelmaker, accounts for 18% of the total production capacity with 7.2 million tons per year.

Khuzestan Steel Company comes next with 3.8 million tons followed by Esfahan Steel Company with 3.6 million tons and South Kaveh Steel Company with 2.4 million tons.

As per the goals set in the 20-Year National Vision Plan (2005-25), Iran seeks to become the world’s sixth largest steelmaker by 2025 with a crude steel output capacity of 55 million tons.

According to IMIDRO, Iran’s steel production capacity is expected to reach 43.6 million tons by the end of the current Iranian year (March 20), while actual production is estimated to hit 31.1 million tons to utilize 71% of the nominal capacity.

IMIDRO is a state-run enterprise and Iran's biggest holding company active in the mining sector.