News Room - Steel Industry

Posted on 28 Apr 2020

Iran's annual semis exports surge again, consumption flat

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