Iran recorded a sharp increase in iron and steel exports in the nine months ending in late December, according to local media citing data from the Iranian Steel Producers Association (ISPA). Export revenues rose 27pct YoY to USD 6.05 bln in the April-December period, while shipment volumes climbed 43pct to 30.39 mln tons.
Finished steel exports reached 3.33 mln tons, valued at USD 1.54 bln, up 19pct in volume and 10pct in value. Semi-finished steel exports increased 39pct to 6.14 mln tons, generating USD 2.53 bln in revenue, a 24pct YoY rise. Iron ore and concentrate exports also strengthened, earning USD 1.98 bln, nearly 50pct higher than a year earlier, with volumes up more than 49pct to 20.93 mln tons.
On the production side, finished steel output edged up 1pct to 16.65 mln tons, while semi-finished steel production rose 7.4pct to 24.71 mln tons. Iron ore and concentrate production increased 6.7pct YoY to 140.2 mln tons during the period.
