Iran: Steel production falls y-o-y in Mar'21-Feb'22

Iran's steel production in the first eleven months of the current Persian Year (21 Mar'21-19 Feb'22) fell compared to the corresponding period last year, according to latest data released by the Iranian Steel Producers Association (ISPA).

• The country produced 25.34 million tonnes (mnt) of semi-finished steel in the period under review, down 9% y-o-y. Billets and blooms accounted for 15.13 mnt of the total semi-finished output, a significant y-o-y fall of 13% while slabs production was down marginally by 2% y-o-y to 10.21 mnt.
  
  
• The total production of finished steel stood at 18.28 mnt in the period under review, lower by 5% y-o-y.
  
  
• Production of long and flat steel stood at 10.31 mnt and 7.72 mnt, down by 3% and 7%, respectively in this period.
  
  
• As per statistics released by ISPA, direct reduced iron (DRI) production stood at 27.5 mnt in the eleven months of Iranian year, down by 1% y-o-y when compared to the same period last year.
  
  

The decline in production of semi-finished, finished steel and DRI comes as steel mills were forced to lower power and natural gas consumption during the summer and winter seasons, respectively.

However, the restrictions have eased now. As power curbs-related issues seem resolved, the Iranian government may encourage steel makers to increase production, sources informed SteelMint.