Iranian Apparent Steel Consumption Declines in Q1
Financial Tribune reported that According to the Iranian Steel Producers Association, Iran's apparent steel usage, defined as production plus imports minus exports, sometimes also adjusted for changes in inventories, decreased in the first quarter of the current Iranian year (March 21-June 21) to 6.4 million tonnes for semi-finished products, registering a 1% decrease compared with last year's corresponding period. It totalled 4.6 million tonnes for finished products, posting a 2% decline year-on-year. Flat steel products accounted for the largest portion of finished steel consumption with 2.34 million tonnes, down 4% YoY. Long steel products accounted for 2.33 million tonnes of finished steel apparent usage, unchanged from last year.
HR - 2.2 million tonnes down 5% YoY
CR – 728,000 tonnes up 6%
Coated – 371,000 tonnes up 16%
Rebar - 1.8 million tonnes down 1%
Beams - 285,000 tonnes up 6%
According to ISPA, a total of 8.07 million tonnes of semi-finished steel were produced in Iran in Q1, up 6% year over year. Billet and bloom made up 4.88 million tonnes of semi-finished production, up 7% YoY. Slab output reached 3.2 million tons to register a 6% year-on-year rise. The output of finished steel increased to 5.4 million tonnes up by 7% YoY. Long steel products had a 3.1 million-tonne share in the output of finished steel products, posting a 16% growth compared with the similar period of last year. Production of flat steel with 2.3 million tons registered a 3% YOY decline in the three-month period.
First quarter exports stood at 1.62 million tonnes for semi-finished products, up 55% year-on-year. Billet and bloom had the lion’s share of semis exports with an aggregate of 1.06 million tonnes, 26% higher than the previous corresponding period. Slab exports stood at 563,000 tonnes during the period, up 176% YOY. The export of finished steel products jumped by 125% to 873,000 tonnes during the three months under review and mostly included rebar at 684,000 tonnes up 142%; beam at 36,000 tonnes up 33% YoY; hot rolled coil at 57,000 tonnes up 171%; cold-rolled coil at 1,000 tonnes down 89% decline year-on-year & coated coil at 31,000 tonnes up 107% YoY
The import of semi-finished steel stood at 1,000 tonnes in Q1, unchanged compared to last year’s corresponding period. The import of finished steel rose by 2% YOY to 194,000 tons and mostly included HRC with 45,000 tonnes down 48%; CRC with 79,000 tonnes up 80%; coated coil with 50,000 tonnes up 4%; L-beam, T-beam and other types with 9,000 tonnes up 29%; rebar with 8,000 tonnes up 60% and beam with 3,000 tonnes up 100%.
Source - Strategic Research Institute