Iran’s monthly crude steel output exceeds 1.3 million tons

TEHRAN,May 9(MNA) - Iran produced over 1.3 million tons of crude steel in the first calendar month of Farvardin (March 20-April 19), showing a 15 percent growth compared to the same month last year. Steel products output stood at 1.5 million tons in the aforementioned period, up 14 percent year on year. The Industry, Mine and Trade Ministry has issued permission for producing up to 90 million tons of steel products this year, the deputy minister said. On April 13, the IRNA news agency quoted Vajihollah Jafari as saying that since 2004 the administration has been significantly supporting investments in the steel sector. Jafari said on April 9 that crude steel output is projected to reach 55 million tons by 2025. Crude steel output stood at 12.7 million tons last year, he said, adding that Iran also produced some 16 million tons of steel products. Iran will become one of the world’s main steel exporters by March 2016, Industry, Mine and Trade Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari said in May 2011.