Posted on 28 Apr 2020
Iranian billet exports slowed further in the month through 19 March, but finish steel consumption rebounded.
In the Iranian year through 19 March 2020 semi-finished product exports rose 26% on-year to 6.91 million tonnes, according to Iranian Steel Producers Association data monitored by Kallanish. Billet exports rose 24% to 4.84mt, slowing from 52% growth after the 11 months through 19 February, while slab exports increased 31% to 2.07mt, accelerating from the previous 23% growth.
12-month finished steel exports rose 16% to 3.46mt, slowing from 25% growth.
Long product exports grew 26%, slowing from 35% growth, to 2.65mt. Rebar shipments rose 35% – versus 47% – to 2.23mt, while sections shipments fell -20%, versus 19%, to 194,000t.
Flats exports fell -8% – compared to 2% growth after 11 months – to 805,000t. This came as hot rolled coil shipments slumped -19%, versus -8%, to 536,000t, and coated flats exports fell -13% to 149,000t. Cold rolled coil shipments, however, surged 120% to 179,000t.
Finished steel apparent consumption was flat on-year – versus a -3% decline after 11 months – at 15.6mt. Rebar use fell -2% to 6.1mt but HRC use was up 2% to 7.82mt. CRC use fell -4% to 2.67mt but coated flats use rose 11% to 1.71mt.
12-month imports of finished steel declined -42% to 598,000t. They fell -54% after 11 months.
Iranian direct reduced iron exports, meanwhile, grew 77% to 942,000t, with consumption up 4% to 26.97mt and production up 6% to 27.91mt. This compared to 11-month growth of 86%, 3% and 5% respectively. This shows less was exported and more consumed locally in the final month of the year.
Iranian crude steel production grew 10% on-year in the Iranian year through 19 March 2020 to 27.2mt, with finished steel output up 6% to 20.2mt (see Kallanish passim).
Source:Kallanish
