According to new data released by Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization, Mobarakeh Steel Company saw the highest volume of sales during the period with 450 trillion rials ($1.75 billion), up 157% YOY.
The National Iranian Copper Industries Company came next with 212 trillion rials ($824 million), up 132% YOY.
It was followed by Golgohar Mining and Industrial Company with 173 trillion rials ($673 million), up 210% YOY; Khouzestan Steel Company with 148 trillion rials ($575 million), up 122% YOY; and Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Company with 129 trillion rials ($501 million), up 273% YOY.
The sales of major mining firms in the fourth month of the year (June 22-July 22) hit 450 trillion rials ($1.75 billion), registering an 18% decline month-on-month, but a 112% rise YOY.
Mobarakeh Steel Company also had the highest volume of sales during the month with 114 trillion rials ($443 million), down 6% MOM but up 134% year-on-year.
It was followed by the National Iranian Copper Industries Company with 77 trillion rials ($299 million), up 18% and 182% MOM and YOY respectively.
Khouzestan Steel Company came next with 39 trillion rials ($151 million), up 11% and 109% MOM and YOY respectively; Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Company with 32 trillion rials ($124 million), down 13% MOM but up 190% YOY; and Golgohar Mining and Industrial Company with 31 trillion rials ($120 million), down 30% MOM but up 110% YOY.
The IMIDRO report also shows these mining firms under review lost 100 trillion rials ($389 million) in their total four-month sales due to power outages.
Fiscal 2020-21 in Review
The aggregate sales volume of firms under review stood at 3.22 quadrillion rials ($12.5 billion) during the last Iranian year (ended March 19) to register a 105% rise compared to the year before.
Mobarakeh Steel Company registered the highest sales volume among the firms. It was followed by the Iranian National Copper Industries Company with 419.4 trillion rials ($1.63 billion) of sales during the year, up by 87% YOY.
Khuzestan Steel Company came third, as its sales totaled 306.4 trillion rials ($1.19 billion), up 93% YOY.
Golgohar Mining and Industrial Company (GEG) sold 292.9 trillion rials ($1.13 billion) worth of mineral products, witnessing a 114% rise YOY.
Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Company came next with 255.5 trillion rials ($994 million) worth of sales in the said period, up 164% YOY.
Standing in sixth place was Esfahan Steel Company (ESCO) with 200.3 trillion rials ($779 million) worth of sales in 12 months, indicating an 84% growth YOY.
With 134.4 trillion rials ($522 million) worth of sales last year, South Kaveh Steel Company was next to register a 120% rise YOY.
Hormozgan Steel Company’s sales in the year under review reached 134.1 trillion rials ($521 million), up 153% YOY.
Iran’s export of mineral products during the last Iranian year (finished March 2021) stood at 55 million tons worth $7.6 billion, according to IMIDRO.
The exports show a 21% and 11% decline in total volume and value year-on-year respectively.
According to IMIDRO, steel topped the list of exports in terms of value with $4.1 billion and was followed by copper with $958 million and cement with $758 million.
In terms of tonnage, cement had the largest share with 24.3 million tons, followed by steel with 9.69 million tons.
Alumina powder exports saw the biggest jump in terms of value (335% YOY) to reach $1.8 million, followed by aluminum products with $321 million (up 177% YOY).
The sharpest fall in export value was recorded for pellet (down 93% YOY to reach $14.3 million) and iron ore in (down 89% YOY to reach $32.4 million).
In terms of tonnage, aluminum products posted the biggest growth (183% YOY) to reach 171,000 tons, followed by alumina powder (up 163% YOY to reach 880 tons) and zinc products (up 48% YOY to reach 209,000 tons).
Precious metals and minerals (such as gold and silver) had the sharpest decline in tonnage (down 97% YOY).
The IMIDRO report also shows import of mineral products stood at 4.15 million tons worth $3.4 billion during the same period. The imports show a 13% increase in total volume and a 6% growth in value compared with the same period of the year before.
Steel also topped the list of mineral imports in terms of value with $1.3 billion. It was followed by coal and coke with $300 million worth of imports. Aluminum products with $290 million came next.
In terms of tonnage, steel topped the list with 1.217 million tons, followed by coal and coke with 1.21 million tons, alumina powder with 314,000 tons and aluminum products with 168,000 tons.
Iran’s Mineral Landscape
Out of 10,170 mines in Iran, 6,861 are active and 3,309 are inactive, according to the latest data announced by the Statistical Center of Iran.
From the 6,861 active mines, 6,449 mines were engaged only in production, 289 mines were in both production and exploration, and 123 were in production while being equipped.
Of the 3,309 inactive mines, 289 were only being equipped, 60 mines had less than 30 days of operation, 513 mines had been permanently closed, 208 were temporarily closed and 430 had other reasons for their inactivity.
Some other causes of inactivity were mine blockage, market stagnation, lack of licenses and legal and environmental problems.
Statistics were collected from February 19 to May 1 in the fiscal 2021-22, IRNA reported.
Iran’s mineral reserves stand at around 60 billion tons, more than half of which are proven.
The country is home to 68 types of minerals.
According to the United States Geological Survey, Iran holds the world's largest zinc, ninth largest copper, 10th largest iron ore, fifth largest gypsum and barite, and 10th largest uranium reserves.
Overall, Iran is home to more than 7% of global mineral reserves.