Iranian exports of semi-finished products rose 89% on-year in the ten months through 20 January to 5.37 million tonnes, according to Iranian Steel Producers’ Association (ISPA) data published on ISPA’s online Chilan portal.

Exports of slab grew 130% to 2.44mt, slowing from 134% growth after nine months, while billet shipments abroad rose 65% to 2.95mt, accelerating from 52% growth after nine months.

Ten-month direct reduced iron exports, meanwhile, surged 336% to 567,000t.

Iran’s finished steel exports fell -25% in the ten months to 1.85mt. This was due mainly to shipments of hot rolled coil above 3mm thick dropping -57% to 434,000t and cold rolled coil shipments falling -93% to 10,000t.

Iranian finished steel imports fell -24% in the ten months to 1.86mt.

Iran’s largest steelmaker, Mobarakeh Steel, has focused more on supplying the domestic market this Iranian year, which has resulted in a significant drop in Iranian flat product exports. The firm increased ten-month domestic steel sales by 25% on-year to 4.83mt (see Kallanish 14 February).

However, second- and third-largest producers, Khouzestan Steel and Esfahan Steel, have stepped up their shipments abroad of semis and long products. The latter recently exported its first rebar cargo to the UK. Khorasan Steel, meanwhile, recently exported its first billet cargo to Southeast Asia.