Mobarakeh Steel Co (MSC), the largest Iranian steel producer, increased its exports sharply to 172,000 mt in the last Iranian month (to February 19), 80% higher than in the previous month and about nine times more than in the same period last year, according to statistics obtained from Iranian mines and metals group, Imidro, Monday.
However, total exports from MSC declined in the first 11 months of the current Iranian year (April-February). Some 1.05 million mt of flat-rolled products and steel slabs were exported by MSC in this period, marking a 28% decline on the year.
Steel exports from Iran's other main steelmakers steadily increased though. Iran's main mills exported 6.56 million mt of products in the first 11 months of the current Iranian year, mainly semi-finished products, marking a 39% increase from the same period last year.
With some 2.5 million mt of billet and slab exported during the 11-month period, Iran's second largest producer (but the largest exporter) Khouzestan Steel Co (KSC), registered a 49% on-year increase in exports.
KSC's products went to 17 countries, including Italy, South Korea, India, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, Thailand, Oman, Egypt and the UAE, domestic news agencies reported the company's managing director, Mohammad Keshani, as saying.
Some 1 million mt of slab was also exported during the period by MSC's affiliated company, Hormozgan Steel Co, marking a 9% increase year on year.
Some 1.02 mt of finished and semi-finished products, including 748,000 mt of billet, was exported by Esfahan Steel Co (Esco) -- up 99% on the same period last year.
In the past month alone, exports from major mills shot up 111% on year, excluding exports by smaller private-sector producers.
During the last Iranian year (to March 20), the country's major steel producers exported 5.38 million mt of steel products, 29% up on the year, as previously reported by Imidro.
Details regarding export destinations for producers other than KSC were not immediately available.
