Iranian steel exports continued to fall in February

Iran's major Iranian steel companies reported a 51% month-on-month decline in exports from Feb.19 to 373,888 tons.

In the 11 months to 19 February, these exports fell 22% year on year to 5.1 million tonnes.

Iran's largest steel exporter, Khouzestan Steel, said monthly overseas shipments fell 43% to 159,387 tons, while exports fell 20% to 2 million tons in 11 months.

Esfahan Steel's monthly exports fell 32% to 71,733 thousand tons, while supplies over 11 months decreased by 21% to 810 601 thousand tons.

Exports of Mobarakeh Steel in the month before February 19 fell by -84% to 27,739 tons, and over 11 months, exports decreased by -25% to 783,684 tons.

The re-imposition of US economic sanctions on Iran since August last year has seriously undermined the country's ability to sell steel abroad. It was recently heard that Iran is trying to sell rebar at relatively low prices in Turkey and Lebanon, among other destinations.

According to the Iranian Steel Producers Association, exports of Iranian billets in the ten months to 20 January fell 15% year on year to 2.51 million tons, while slab exports fell 39% to 1.46 million tons. However, supplies of finished products abroad increased by 102.5% to 2.4 million tons.