Iran’s Mineral Output: 258m Tons in 10 Months

Iran produced more than 258 million tons of mineral products during the 10 months to January 19, the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization's latest report shows.

The output for the 10th Iranian month of Dey stood at 26.81 million tons, up 5.5% compared to the previous month.

Iran is home to 68 types of minerals with more than 37 billion tons of proven and 57 billion tons of potential reserves, including large deposits of coal, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, uranium and gold. 

According to the United States Geological Survey, Iran holds the world’s ninth largest copper, 12th largest iron ore and 10th largest uranium reserves. Overall, Iran accounts for more than 7% of global mineral reserves.

Iron Ore, Steel Sectors

Iron ore concentrate had the biggest share of Iran's mineral production during the 10-month period with 25.49 million tons, registering a 17.27% rise year-on-year. 

Golgohar Mining and Industrial Complex accounted for 10.23 million tons of the total output, followed by Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Complex with 7.7 million tons, Iran Central Iron Ore Company with 3.38 million tons, Middle East Mines and Mining Industries Development Holding Company with 2.83 million tons and Sangan Iron Ore Complex with 1.33 million tons.

All iron ore mines, except Chadormalu, posted a double-digit growth in production. 

Sangan Iron Ore Mine's output was up 80% compared with last year’s corresponding period. It holds Iran's largest and the world's ninth largest iron ore reserves, estimated at about 1.2 billion tons.

As Iran's largest iron ore open-pit mine, it has the capacity to produce 15 million tons of iron ore pellets and 17.5 million tons of concentrate annually.

Iran accounts for about 3% of global iron ore reserves (estimated at 4.5 billion tons) with over 200 ore deposits. In fact, the country is the ninth largest iron ore and the 14th largest steel producer globally.

Pellet was next on the list with an output of 20.96 million tons, recording a 17.27% growth year-on-year. 

Mobarakeh Steel Company was the top producer with 6.12 million tons, followed by GEG with 5.6 million tons, Khouzestan Steel Company with 5.1 million tons, CMIC with 3 million tons and MIDHCO with 1.06 million tons.

MIDHCO’s pellet output jumped by a whopping 3,342%. 

According to IMIDRO, the remarkable rise in output is mostly attributed to MIDHCO’s minimal pellet production in the last Iranian year (March 2015-16), leaving it with a large amount of raw materials to be utilized this year.

Direct-reduced iron came third, as production was up 9.28% to 13.68 million tons. MSC was at the forefront with a 5.54 million-ton output. KSC came next with 3.1 million tons, followed by Hormozgan Steel Company with 1.06 million tons, South Kaveh Steel Company with 926,660 tons, Saba Steel Complex with 880,356 tons, Khorasan Steel Company with 855,308 tons, Iranian Ghadir Iron and Steel Company with 736,088 tons and MIDHCO with 581,262 tons.

With a 141.52% upsurge, MIDHCO recorded the highest growth among all DRI producers. HOSCO, on the other hand, was the only producer registering a negative growth.

Iran is currently the world’s largest DRI producer. Also known as sponge iron, DRI is produced from the direct reduction of iron ore (in the form of lumps, pellets or fines) to iron by a reducing gas or elementary carbon produced from natural gas or coal.

Crude steel production came next on the list. Steelmakers produced 11.34 million tons of crude steel to register a 2.42% rise. MSC, Iran’s largest steel producer, accounted for 5.51 million tons of the overall figure, followed by KSC with 2.99 million tons, Esfahan Steel Company with 1.88 million tons, Khorasan Steel Company with 536,664 tons, Iran Alloy Steel Company with 323,209 tons and Iran National Steel Industries Group with 83,106 tons.

Billet production of all manufacturers saw a downturn, as only large-cap producers such as MSC and KSC posted growth in their slab and bloom output.

With an output of 8.3 million tons, steel products stood at fifth place and recorded a 4.9% decline in production. MSC and its subsidiary Saba steel accounted for the bulk of output with 4.69 million tons, followed by ESCO with 1.71 million tons, Oxin Steel Company with 463,839 tons, Azarbayjan  Steel Company with 244,308 tons, IASCO with 213,777, INSIG  with 206,206, Ahvaz Rolling and Pipe Mills Company with 180,743 tons and Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari Automotive Sheet Company with 154,785 tons.

AZSCO and CBASCO were the only steelmakers to post growth in the manufacture of steel products.

Copper

Copper mines operated by National Copper Industries Company extracted 130.2 million tons of copper oxide ore during the 10-month period, indicating a 2.89% drop year-on-year. 

Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex accounted for 60.8 million tons of the total figure, Sungun Copper Complex 41.8 million tons and Miduk Copper Mine 27.57 million tons. With the exception of Sarcheshmeh, Iran’s largest copper deposit, all mines had a decline in extraction.

Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine, located in Kerman Province, is the world's second largest and the Middle East's largest open-pit copper mine.

The three mines’ sulfide copper ore extraction, however, was up 10.41% to 40.69 million tons with all producers posting growth.

Copper concentrate was the main product manufactured in this sector. Output stood at 895,050 tons, recording a 11.22% rise. It was followed by copper anode with 189,660 tons, down 4.50%; copper cathode with 157,360 tons, up 2.51%; and molybdenum with 32,627 tons, down 1.90%.

Aluminum

Iran’s three major aluminum producers produced 244,577 tons of aluminum ingots during the 10 months to register a 1% decline year-on-year. 

Iran Aluminum Company produced 113,152 tons, Hormozal Aluminum Company 80,427 tons and Almahdi Aluminum Company 50,998 tons.

IRALCO’s alumina powder manufacture was down 4.91% to 195,126 tons.

Lead and Zinc

Major Iranian lead and zinc producers experienced a 6.45% decline in their 10-month ore extraction to 778,976 tons. Angouran Lead and Zinc Complex accounted for 755,451 tons of the figure and Nakhlak Lead and Zinc Plant produced 23,525 tons.

Iran accounts for about 3% of global iron ore reserves (estimated at 4.5 billion tons) with over 200 ore deposits. In fact, the country is the ninth largest iron ore and the 14th largest steel producer globally.