Iran: Finished steel exports fall 25%, y-o-y, in March-July

Iran’s finished steel exports in the first four months of the current Persian year (March-July, 2022) stood at 0.87 million tonnes(mnt), registering a significant 25% fall compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Iranian Steel Producers Association (ISPA).

• Exports of long products were recorded at 0.74 mnt, a y-o-y decline of 25%, while flat product exports fell by 24% y-o-y to 0.13 mnt.
• Exports of billets and blooms totalled 1.55 mnt, down 8% y-o-y.
• Slab export volumes were recorded at 0.66 mnt, a decrease of 21% compared to the same period last year.

Outlook

Amid power supply curbs, Iran’s steel production is likely to remain limited in the near term, affecting billet export allocations. However, after the Iranian government announced ease in restrictions, mills were seen offering billets for exports quite actively.