Domestic Economy Desk Iran produced 9.174 million tons of raw steel in the first seven months of the current Iranian year (started March 21 ). The figure indicates a 9-percent growth compared with the corresponding figure of last year, which was 8.431 million tons, IRNA reported. During September 23-October 22 , steel ingot production amounted to 1.38 million tons, up by 18 percent compared with the figure for the same period of last year which was 1.168 million tons. Iran produced 9.735 million tons of steel products, including iron beam, bars, pipes, coils, wide sheets and hot rolled and galvanized sheet, during March 21-October 22 . The output of steel products during Sept. 23-Oct. 22 reached 1.357 million tons. In the first half of the current year, raw steel production reached 7.745 million tons, of which 2.363 million tons pertained to the private sector. Iran ranks first in the Middle East in steel production. It is followed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the region's other steel producers. Iran's major steel mills are located in Isfahan and Khuzestan provinces. Mobarakeh Steel Mill , with approximately 47 percent of the market share, Khuzestan Steel Company with 23 percent, Isfahan Steel Mill with 20 percent and the Iran National Steel Industries Group with 10 percent of the market share are the main raw steel producers of Iran .