Iran produced some 12.9 million tons of crude steel in the first eleven months of the current calendar year (started March 21, 2011), marking an 11 percent rise compared to the same period last year, the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network reported yesterday.

 

Mobarakeh Steel Company was the main producer with an output of 5.1 million tons, according to the report.

 

The annual crude steel output is projected to reach 55 million tons by 2025, the deputy industry, mine and trade minister said earlier this month.

 

Vajihollah Ja’fari added that crude steel output stood at 12.7 million tons last year.

 

Iran also produced some 16 million tons of steel products last year, he said.

 

Iran will become one of the world’s main steel exporters by March 2016, Industry, Mine and Trade Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari said in May 2011.