Iranian exports of slab outpaced those of billet in the three months through 21 June, or first quarter of the Iranian year, surging 211% on-year to 944,000 tonnes, according to newly-released Iranian Steel Producers Association data monitored by Kallanish. Iranian slab apparent consumption, however, fell -13% to 1.66 million tonnes.

Billet exports, having slumped in the month through 21 May, recovered the following month, bringing three-month shipments abroad up 5% to 751,000t. Domestic apparent consumption continued its recovery, rising 10% in the quarter to 1.96mt.

Rebar exports continued their impressive performance in the quarter, surging 175% to 187,000t; however, domestic consumption fell -4% to 1.45mt. Production was up 5% to 1.61mt. Consumption of sections fell -32% to 133,000t, with exports flat at 47,000t and output down -29% to 167,000t.

Iranian consumption of flat products is improving substantially so far this year. Three-month hot rolled coil consumption grew 24% to 2.11mt, cold rolled coil use surged 60% to 786,000t and coated sheet use increased 53% to 485,000t.

In the case of HRC, consumption was supported by 3% higher output at 1.85mt, but imports fell -29% to 300,000t. CRC output surged 51% to 627,000t and HDG production by 65% to 397,000t, but so did imports, by 12% and 18% respectively to 163,000t and 99,000t.

As for exports, those of HRC slumped -93% to only 34,000t. This would be only 136,000t on an annualized basis compared to 1.07mt of HRC exports in the Iranian year through 20 March 2017. CRC exports also slumped, by -94% to only 4,000t. Coated sheet exports, however, rose 22% to 11,000t.

Overall Iranian finished product consumption thus rose 20% in the three months to 5.19mt and production grew 13% to 4.87mt.