Esfahan Steel Co, Iran's largest producer of constructional steel products, said it produced 522,814 mt of crude steel in the first three months of the Iranian year (to June 20), slightly higher year on year.
Some 361,307 mt of both finished and semi-finished products -- including 258,713 mt of billet -- was exported by Esco in the three months, up 88% year on year.
Esco's plan is to raise its exports to 1 million mt for the current Iranian year (to March 2018) Platts learned from the country mines and metal state holding company, Imidro.
Esco recently announced negotiations with two European companies for long-term cooperation on the production of pig iron for the European market, according to the company managing director as reported by Borse24, a domestic website.
Esco was interested in signing a five-year contract and negotiations were ongoing, he said.
