Iran’s aluminum ingots production increased by 70pc to 175,000mt during the first five months (March-August) of the current Iranian calendar as compared to the same period last year, according to media reports citing data from the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (Imidro).
Iran Aluminum Company’s (IRALCO) output grew by 6pc to 80,000mt, 45pc of the total output, in March-August from the same period year prior. The company’s total annual capacity is 180,000 mt.
Hormozal Aluminum Company and Almahdi Aluminum Company’s output rose by 160pc to 66,000mt while Iran Alumina Company produced 9,000mt of aluminum, up by 307pc from the prior-year period.
Output in August rose by 77.66pc to 36,220mt as compared to the same month year prior.
The Iranian aluminum industry is facing several challenges due to sanctions making it difficult to access raw materials and purchasing them at a higher price than global rates.
The country is planning to connect aluminum production units to railroads and explore new bauxite mines to reduce costs, as per the reports.
Iran is projected to produce 1.3mn of aluminum per year when several ongoing projects begin operations, including the South Aluminum Corporation (SALCO) project located in Fars province.
The SALCO project was inaugurated in April this year and will boost Iran’s aluminum production capacity to 785,000mt per year after its development.
Iran plans to produce 1.5mn mt of aluminum ingot by the Iranian calendar year 1404 (March 2025-March 2026), as per reports.