Iranian iron ore concentrate production surged 26.3% on-year in the Iranian year through 20 March 2017 to 32.59 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 12.55mt, Chadormalu with 9.06mt, Central Iron Ore with 4.09mt, Middle East Mines and Mineral Industry Development with 3.28mt and Goharzamin with 1.92mt. Mobarakeh Steel’s Sangan dropped one place to sixth with 1.69mt.

In February Imidro chairman Mehdi Karbasian said Iran plans to increase iron ore concentrate capacity to an ambitious 50 million tonnes/year by 20 March 2018 (see Kallanish 16 February). This would be to cater for the country’s hike in crude steel capacity to 32m t/y. Sangan plans to commission in May a new 5m t/y capacity iron ore pelletising plant and 2.5m t/y concentrate plant.

Iran had previously planned to impose last month a 10% duty on exports of iron ore, although this was scrapped following criticism from various industry players, including Imidro.

Iranian production of iron ore pellet and direct reduced iron, meanwhile, rose 17.3% and 8.6% respectively on-year to 25.81mt and 16.39mt in the year through 20 March 2017.