Iran’s crude steel production doubled

Qazanfari said on Thursday that the annual crude steel output capacity of the country reached 20 million tons in 2010 from 10 million tons in 2005.

Talking to reporters in an inauguration ceremony of two steel companies in northwestern Iran, he said that projects are underway to increase the crude steel production capacity of the country to 43 million tons by 2013.

Qazanfari added that the country is importing about five million tons of steel every year.

According to the World Steel Association (WSA), Iran was the second leading steel producer in the Middle East in 2010.

Major crude steel producers of the Islamic Republic of Iran include the Mobarakeh Steel Mill, with approximately 47 percent of the market share, the Khuzestan Steel Company with about 23 percent, the Isfahan Foundry with about 20 percent, and the Iran National Steel Industries Group with approximately 10 percent of the market share.