Iran’s Copper Output Rises by 18%

Major Iranian copper complexes produced about 228 million tons of copper during the first nine months of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2018-December 22, 2018).

Data released by Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMMIDRO) shows that copper ore extraction during the same period amounted to over 143 million tons.

Copper sulfide extraction topped 40 million tons, which was four percent more than the planned figure.

Copper concentrate output during the period under review stood at 897,258 tons. Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex, Iranian Babak Copper Co., and Sungun complex accounted for over 80 percent of the output.

Copper anode production in Khatoon-abad Copper Refinery during the nine-month period reached 82,063 tons.

Nationally, copper cathode output during the period was over 179,000 tons.

Last Monday, Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade announced that Iranian steel mills have produced 13.1 million tons of crude steel in the first 7 months of the current local calendar year (started on March 21, 2018), indicating a 9.8% increase in output.

The figures showed that the crude steel production in the country rose by 9.8% during the first 7 month of the current Iranian year (started on March 21), while during the same period, 11.4 million tons of steel products, 137.6 tons of copper cathode, and 211.700 tons of aluminum ingots were produced, which were respectively 3.8%, 76.1% and 3% higher than the same period in last year.

Meanwhile, since the beginning of this Iranian year until the end of the seventh month, the production of alumina has declined by 0.5%.

Also, during the same period, Iron ore production increased by 8.8% to 21.16 million tons, while the production of coal concentrations increased by 10.8% to 873.3 tons.

In a related front, an Iranian official said on December 30 that the volume of steel products exported from Natanz Steel Mill in the first 3 quarters of the current Iranian year has surged by 100%, compared with the corresponding period last year.

“Despite the reinstatement of US’ unilateral sanctions against Iran, the Natanz Steel Company experienced a 100% increase in exporting steel products to foreign countries during the first 9 months of the current Iranian year along with meeting the needs of domestic market,” Javad Tavakkoli Torqi said.

“Some of Natanz Steel products have exported to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and the Persian Gulf states,” he added.

On December 22, the World Steel Association (WSA) announced that Iran considerably increased the production of its crude steel in the first 11 months of 2018, registering more than 17 percent growth as compared with last year's corresponding period.

"Iran produced 22.59 million tons of crude steel in the first 11 months of 2018, indicating a growth of 17.3 percent compared with the figure for the same period in 2017, which was 19.256 million tons," the report added.

WSA, meantime, reported that China topped the list of crude steel producers in the same period with 857.372 million tons.

India, Japan and the United States with 96.92 million tons, 95.86 million tons and 79.156 million tons, respectively ranked second, third and fourth, it said.

According to Iran's Vision Plan, total steel production capacity will hit 55 million tons a year by 2025, with an expected exports figure of 10-15 million tons.