Tehran Times reported that Iranian governmental and private steel makers produced around 13.5 million tonnes of crude steel in the first 10 months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21st 2013 to January 20th 2014).

According to the World Steel Association, the crude steel output was 11.9 million tonnes in the same period last year. Iran was the biggest producer of crude steel in the Middle East in 2013. Iran produced 15.4 million tonnes of crude steel in 2013, a 6.6% rise compared to 2012. The country’s crude steel output stood at 1.35 million tons in December 2013 up 13.6% compared to December 2012.

World crude steel production in 2013 amounted to 1.607 billion tonnes an increase of 3.5% compared to 2012. China, Japan and the US were the three biggest crude steel producers in 2013 with 779 million tonnes, 110 million tonnes and 87 million tonnes of output respectively.

Iran’s crude steel production reached 14.89 million tonnes in the previous Iranian calendar year which ended on March 20. Iran plans to increase its annual steel output to 55 million tonnes by the end of the Fifth Five Year Development Plan (2015).