Iran’s MSC Steel produced 4.72mn mt of crude steel and in the first quarter of Iranian year (March 20-June 20) to maintain its leadership position in domestic steel production, according to the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) data. In Q1, MSC steel produced 2.12mn mt of finished steel, down 4pc from the prior year quarter and 2.6mn mt of semi-finished products, up 10pc from the prior period.
On a monthly basis, in June (May 21-June 20), MSC’s crude steel output was 1.54mn mt. The company produced 660,490mt of finished steel, down 9pc from the prior year and 880,461mt of semi-finished steel, up 9pc from the prior period.
Iran produced over 3.57mn mt of finished steel products in Q1.The country has planned 16 development projects in the steel sector to boost steel products output by 17.3mn mt in the next five years.
Sponge iron production
Iran produced 8.21mn mt of sponge iron in Q1. In June, sponge iron output increased 16pc to 661,466mt from the prior June despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Iran remains world’s second largest DRI producer followed by India. According to Iranian Steel Producers Association (ISPA), total sponge iron production rose by 6pc to 27.91mn mt in the past Iranian calendar year (ended March 19, 2020), from 26.36mn mt in its preceding year. The country consumed 26.97mn mt sponge iron last Iranian year, up from 25.826mn mt consumed in the prior year.
Three new projects with an annual capacity of 800,000mt were commenced last year in Iran’s Kerman province, South Khorasan province and Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari province.
Pellet production
The country produced a total of 11.24mn mt of iron ore pellets in Q1, down 2pc from the same period prior year. Golgohar was the largest producer of pellet with 3.09mn mt, down 1pc from a year ago.