Iranian iron ore concentrate production rose 21% on-year in the first seven months of the Iranian year, or seven months through 21 October, to 17.9 million tonnes, Kallanish learns from the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organisation (Imidro).

The largest producers in this period were Gol Gohar with 7.16mt, Chadormalu with 5.62mt, Central Iron Ore with 2.25mt, Middle East Mines and Mineral Industry Development with 1.99mt and Sangan with 860,719t.

Iran’s seven-month production of iron ore fines – before conversion into concentrate – rose 11% on-year, meanwhile, to 19.66mt. Of this, Gol Gohar produced 7.16mt, Chadormalu 5.7mt, Central Iron Ore 3.35mt, Sangan 2mt and Jalalabad 623,269t.

Merchant lump iron ore production declined -12% on-year in the seven months to 3.74mt. Sangan with 1.19mt was the main producer, followed by Central Iron Ore with 1.07mt and Jalalabad with 623,269t.

Despite plentiful iron ore production, Iran’s mainly direct reduced iron-based steelmakers need to import around 10 million tonnes/year of their pellet requirement due to insufficient local capacity. This is likely to change in the next 2-3 years as new pelletising plants are either planned or being constructed.

Mobarakeh Steel is on the verge of completing construction of a 5m t/y pelletising plant at its Sangan iron ore mine.