Posted on 15 Apr 2020
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
