Mineral companies affiliated with Iranian state mines and metals holding company, Imidro, produced 9.49 million mt of iron ore concentrate in the first three months of the current Iranian year (to June 21), up 37.6% year on year, an informed source at the holding told S&P Global Platts Thursday.
Some 7.79 million mt of iron ore pellet -- a 22.3% increase on the year -- was produced in the same period, as well as 4.78 million mt of direct reduced iron, a 12.6% rise.
Crude steel output also increased sharply. Some 4.14 million mt of crude steel was produced by Iran's major mills, up 11.9%.
Of national total, Mobarakeh Steel Co. produced 2.19 million mt (a 14.5% increase), Khuzestan Steel Co. 944,151 mt (a 1.84% increase) and Esfahan Steel Co (Esco) 529,953 mt, 14.82% less on the year.
Some 1.359 million mt of crude steel was produced in the latest Iranian month, 13.41% more than a year earlier.
Iran hopes to boost steel production capacity to 55 million mt/year by 2025 and aims to attract some $30 billion of foreign investment, Imidro Chairman Mehdi Karbasian told Iranian news agencies in June.
