Iran Ups Steel Output despite Sanctions
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The volume of Iran’s steel production have shown a 6 percent increase over the first three quarters of 2014 compared to the same period last year, despite sanctions imposed on the country’s steel industry.
The volume of the Islamic Republic’s steel production have reached 12.067 million tons in the first 9 months of this year, showing a 6 percent increase compared with the same period in 2013, in which the amount stood at 11.319 million tons, according to the latest figures released by the World Steel Association.
Iran’s total steel output in 2013 reached 15.421 million tons, and the country was ranked 15th among major steel-producing countries in the world, a report by the association said.
According to the report, the figure showed a 6.6 percent increase compared to the total productionin 2012.
In September 2014, Iran produced 1.429 million tons of steel, indicating a 4 percent increase compared to the same month in 2013, in which the figure amounted to 1.364 million tons.
Iran is reportedly the biggest steel producer in the Middle East and North Africa. The country’s main steel production facilities are located in Isfahan and Khuzestan provinces.