TEHRAN - Iran produced 4.089 million tons of crude steel in the first quarter of 2015, a 9.6 percent rise from 3.729 million tons in the first quarter of 2014, the World Steel Association said in its latest report.

The country’s crude steel output stood at 1.315 million tons in March 2015, showing one percent drop from 1.329 million tons in March 2014, according to the report.

World crude steel production for the 65 countries reporting to the WSA was 138.045 million tons in March 2015, a 2.7 percent fall from 141.811 million tons in March 2014.

China, Japan, and India were the three biggest crude steel producers in March 2015, with 69.485 million tons, 9.286 million tons, and 6.950 million tons of output, respectively.

According to the officials, Iran’s crude steel output is projected to increase to 55 million tons by the end of the Fifth Five-Year Development Plan (2010-2015).

Iran was the biggest producer of crude steel in the Middle East in 2013, according to the WSA.

MA/M