TEHRAN (Mehr News Agency) -- During the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2003,) Iran has imported more than three million tons of steel, 80 percent more than the reported import for the previous year, an official announced here Sunday.

The figure shows a 119 percent increase in comparison with the corresponding period a year earlier.

In 2002, Iran marked a record for importing steel, but, unfortunately, the record rebounded more dramatically in the first half of the current year when it registered an increase of three million ton import. Head of Steel Producers’ Association Khalifeh Soltani referred to the lack of control over import of goods, stressing, "It would not only run the producers at a loss, but also will reduce economic growth and development."

Private sector produced 420,000 tons of steel in the past three months, which shows its highly active roll in the field.

Growth domestic production (GDP), balance of supply and demand in the market, and stable tariffs on imported products are among the most effective ways of accelerating economic development, he added. RN/IS END MNA