TEHRAN - Production of aluminum ingot in Iran reached 264,617 tons in the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-August 21), according to the data released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO).

As reported, production by Iran’s four major aluminum producers, namely South Aluminum Corporation (SALCO), Iranian Aluminum Company (IRALCO), Almahdi Aluminum Company, and Iran Alumina Company, increased by one percent in the first five months of the current year, compared to the same period last year.

Among the country’s four major producers, SALCO had the best performance in the mentioned five months, producing 111,521 tons of aluminum ingots, followed by IRALCO producing 73,182 tons, Almahdi Aluminum Company producing 65,295 tons, and Iran Alumina Company producing 14,619 tons of ingots.

Based on the IMIDRO data, during the period under review, 96,685 tons of alumina powder, 163,096 tons of aluminum hydrate, and 284,828 tons of bauxite were produced by Iran Alumina Company.

Iran produced more than 635,000 tons of aluminum ingots over the past Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19).

The country’s aluminum mills continued with their production over the past year and posted a slight one percent year-on-year increase despite the energy restrictions.

According to IMIDRO, the country’s aluminum production stood at around 632,000 tons a year earlier.

Iran Alumina Company produced some 222,138 tons of alumina powder, 374,106 tons of alumina hydrate, and 598,599 tons of bauxite in the one-year timespan.

Iranian officials estimate the country’s aluminum sector has a value of $22 billion, which is sufficient to meet the country’s aluminum needs.

At present, Iran is the 18th biggest aluminum-producing country in the world.

MA