News Room - Steel Industry

Posted on 15 Apr 2020

Iranian billet exports, rebar consumption slow in February

Iranian billet imports slowed in the month through 19 February, while domestic finished steel consumption declined.

In the 11 months through 19 February overall semi-finished product exports rose 42% on-year to 6.35 million tonnes, with billet shipments up 52% to 4.44mt and slab exports up 23% to 1.91mt, according to Iranian Steel Producers Association data monitored by Kallanish. This compares to billet and slab export growth of 63% and 18% respectively after ten months.

11-month finished steel exports rose 25% to 3.3mt, with the growth rate unchanged from ten months.

Long product exports grew 35% to 2.5mt, slowing from 36% growth after ten months. Rebar exports grew 47%, versus 49% after ten months, to 2.1mt. Sections exports fell -19%, versus a -25% drop to 181,000t.

Flat product exports rose 2% to 777,000t compared to a -2% decline after ten months. This came as hot rolled coil shipments fell only -8% – versus -15% – to 519,000t. Cold rolled coil exports grew 208% – versus 244% – to 114,000t.

Finished steel apparent consumption declined -3% in the 11 months compared to zero growth after ten months and totalled 13.94mt. HRC use growth remained flat, resulting in 7.09mt, but rebar use fell -5%, versus -3%, to 5.41mt.

11-month imports of finished steel fell -54% to 445,000t. They fell -55% after ten months.

Iranian direct reduced iron exports, meanwhile, grew 86% to 942,000t, with consumption up 3% to 24.51mt and production up 5% to 25.45mt. This compared to ten-month growth of 76%, 6% and 8% respectively. This shows more DRI was exported in the February month as local consumption slowed. 

Source:Kallanish