TEHRAN – Iran produced 12 million tons of steel in 2007, announced the head of the Iranian Steel Producer Association here on Sunday.

The private sector has produced 3 million tons during the year, indicating a 12 percent growth when compared to that of previous year, said Taqi Bahrami-Noshahr, adding the state-run sector has witnessed a 4 percent rise with a 9 million ton output.
Referring to a 30 percent increase in steel imports during 2007, he said that Iran has imported 10 million tons of the commodity from Russia, Ukraine, China, and Kazakhstan.
He called for government’s support for the industry to boost exports