Iran: Semi-finished exports, production rise y-o-y in Mar-Apr’25 despite ongoing power restrictions

• Sluggish domestic demand prompts exports surge
• DRI production increases 7%, exports up 34% y-o-y

Iran’s semi-finished steel exports in the first month of the current Persian Year (21 March-20 April 2025) surged by 50% y-o-y, while production edged up by 4.6%, according to data from the Iranian Steel Producers Association (ISPA). This is despite ongoing power restrictions and shortages, which have impacted Iran’s industrial operations.

Semi-finished steel exports surge

Iran’s semi-finished steel exports stood at around 515,000 tonnes (t) in the first month of the current Persian Year, a y-o-y increase of 50%.

Billets and blooms accounted for 398,000 t of total semis output exports, up by 20% compared to 333,000 t in the year-ago period. Meanwhile, slab export volumes surged to 117,000 t in the period under review as against only 10,000 t in the corresponding period last year (CPLY).

However, exports of long products were recorded at 176,000 t, down 18% y-o-y, while shipments of flats increased sharply by 70% y-o-y to 32,000 t.

Iran’s semi-finished steel exports rose at the start of the current Persian year due to a mix of factors: sluggish domestic demand, which prompted a shift to exports; favourable pricing in international markets; and expanded production by key steelmakers despite ongoing energy constraints.

Meanwhile, exports of direct reduced iron (DRI) in the period under review were recorded at 105,000 t, a rise of around 34% y-o-y.

Semi-finished steel production rises around 5% y-o-y

According to the Iranian Steel Producers Association (ISPA), Iran’s semi-finished steel output stood at 3.31 mnt in the first month of the current Persian Year, an increase of 4.6% from 3.17 mnt in the preceding year.

Billets and blooms accounted for 1.97 mnt of total semis output, up by 2.7% compared to 1.92 mnt in the year-ago period.

Production of slabs witnessed an increase of 7.6% to 1.34 mnt as against 1.25 mnt in the corresponding period last year (CPLY).

Notably, DRI production stood at 4.08 mnt in the period under review, a rise of 7% compared to 3.81 mnt in the previous year.