TEHRAN- The Islamic Republic managed to produce 16 million tons of crude steel in the past Iranian calendar year of 1394 (which ended on March 19, 2016), registering a 5.4-percent growth compared to its preceding year, IRIB news reported.

According to the Secretary of Iran Steel Organization Seyed Soltan Khalifeh Soltan, 4.3 million tons of the produced amount were exported in the said time and the country plans to increase its steel exports up to 6 million tons per annum.

“Domestic Iranian steel industry is currently operating by 70 percent of its total capacity,” he added.

Iran’s crude steel production reached 5.57 million tons in the first four months of 2016, a 1.5 percent rise compared to the same period last year, World Steel Association (WSA) reported in May.

The country produced 5.488 million tons of crude steel in the first four months of 2015.

According to WSA, Iran was the biggest producer of crude steel in the Middle East in 2013. The country’s rank was 14th in the world in 2014.

HJ/MA