Iran’s Sponge iron or direct-reduced iron (DRI) production in the first nine months (Mar 20-Dec 20, 2020) of the Iranian calendar stood at 23.3mn mt, up by 9pc as compared to 21.4mn mt in the prior-year period, according to local media reports citing data released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (Imidro).
In the ninth month (Nov 22- Dec 20, 2020) of the Iranian calendar, the country’s Sponge iron output grew by 5pc to 2.6mn mt from 2.5mn mt produced during the same month in the preceding year.
The main Sponge iron producers in the ninth month were Mobarakeh Steel, Sefid Dasht, Hormozgan Steel, Kaveh South, Ghadir Iron and Steel, Middle East Mines and Mining Industries Development, Khuzestan, Khorasan, Miyaneh, Sabzevar, Shadegan, Saba Steel, Neyriz, Arfa Iron and Steel, Gol Gohar, Chadormelo, Jahan Foolad Sirjan, and Foolad Baft.
Iron ore pellet production
Iran’s iron ore pellet production in the Mar-Dec period stood at 24.5mn mt, up by 11pc from the prior-year period, while in the ninth month of the fiscal, it grew by 10pc to 3.6mn mt from the same year prior in the previous year.
The main iron ore pellet producers in the ninth months were Mobarakeh Steel, Khuzestan, Middle East, Khorasan, Chadormelo, Gol Gohar, Opal Parsian Sangan, Sangan Steel, and Sabanour.
Iran is among the top ten steel producers in the world, however, in recent years, it is closely competing with India in the Sponge iron sector.