Posted on 20 Jun 2018
Iranian billet exports rose 19% on-year in the month through 20 April, or first month of the Iranian year, to 311,000 tonnes, according to Iranian Steel Producers (ISPA) data monitored by Kallanish. This followed an 86% on-year surge in the Iranian year through 20 March 2018 to 4.03 million tonnes.
Iranian apparent billet consumption in the one month rose 37% to 763,000t, accelerating from 2% growth last full Iranian year to 7.66mt.
Iranian one-month slab exports rose 3% to 184,000t, while apparent use grew 15% to 848,000t. Last Iranian year these exports rose 80% to 2.85mt, while consumption was flat at 7.4mt.
Overall Iranian semis exports thus grew 13% in the one month to 495,000t, while apparent use rose 24% to 1.61mt.
These exports could be curbed going forward following US President Donald Trump's decision on 8 May to reimpose economic sanctions on Iran. This move has already discouraged buyers from purchasing Iranian steel due to uncertainty over payment and fear of being penalised.
Iranian one-month direct reduced iron exports, meanwhile, surged 63% to 49,000t, and consumption increased 7% to 2.18mt. Last year exports soared 315% to 713,000t, and consumption dropped -2% to 21.85mt.
