Over 5.137 million tons of steel ingot were produced in Iran during the four months of the current calendar year (which started on March 21), Managing director of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) Amir Amini said.

"The figure shows 5 percent increase compared to the same period of time previous year," he said, IRNA News Agency reported.

"More than 1.3 million tons of steel ingot were also produced in during the fourth calendar month of Tir (June 22 - July 22), which is 11 per cent more than the previous year," he said.

Deputy Industry, Mine, and Trade Minister Seyyed Alireza Shoja'ei said earlier that Iran's steel production capacity surpassed 31 million tons in the previous calendar year, which ended March 20. "The country's steel products output stood at 17.4 million tons in the mentioned period, Shoja'ei said.

The latest statistics released by the World Steel Association shows that Iran has produced 6.077 million tons of crude steel in the first five months of 2013. Iran's crude steel output in May stood at 1.287 million tons, which is 3.7 per cent more than the same period previous year.

The country's production growth in May was more than other major producers of the world including India , USA , France , Germany , Italy , Mexico , Britain , Russia , and Ukraine.

Some 658 million tons of crude steel was produced across the globe in the first five months of the current year.The figure shows 2.1 per cent increase compared to the same period of time previous year.