TEHRAN- Iran’s production of crude steel stood at 8.159 million tons in the first five months of 2017, with 944,000 tons rise from 7.215 million tons in the same time span in 2016, according to the latest report published by the World Steel Association (WSA).

The country’s production of crude steel stood at 1.620 million tons in May, with 8.8 percent rise from 1.565 million tons in April, the WSA reported.

According to a January report published by the WSA, Iran produced 17.89 million tons of crude steel in 2016, registering an 11 percent growth compared to the figure in 2015.

The country’s crude steel output stood at 18.466 million tons in the past Iranian calendar year 1395 (ended on March 20), showing 11 percent rise from 16.656 million tons in 1394.

Iran exported 5.5 million tons of crude steel in the past year, with 27 percent increase from the figure of its preceding year.

Iranian Steel Manufacturers Association’s Secretary Rasoul Khalifeh-Soltan believes that while the country’s steel industry’s growth has been 5.7 percent on average in the recent years, the figure can reach 10 percent this year, given the promising condition the sector enjoys at present.

MA/MG