Tehran, Iran — Iran’s annual steel production capacity is expected to increase by more than 22 percent within the next two years to reach 55 million metric tons (mt) by 2025, a senior member of the Board of Directors of the Iranian Steel Producers Association (ISPA) said.
Bahador Ehramian stated that Iran’s steel output capacity had increased by more than six times in 20 years to reach a current figure of 45 million mt per year, according to Tasnim Agency.
He said more than a half of the current steel output in Iran is exported to other countries, adding that Iran seeks greater access to export target markets as the domestic demand for steel is expected to stay at a present level of 20 million mt per year in the coming years.
Iran has seen a major surge in its steel exports this year thanks to a ramp-up in domestic output and the tight international supplies caused by the war in Ukraine, he emphasized, other Iranian media reports said.
ISPA figures published in early September showed that exports of semi-finished steel from Iran had reached 3.093 million in the five months to August 22, up 24.8 percent compared to the same period in 2022.
Iran also increased its exports of steel sheets and long steel products by 15 percent year on year in March-August while overseas shipments of sponge iron rose by more than 232 percent over the same period to reach 0.708 million mt, according to the same figures.
The increased exports of steel from Iran come despite the fact that exporters and their foreign customers cannot access normal banking services because of US sanctions imposed against the country.
