TEHRAN - Iran’s crude steel output totaled 7.36 million tons in the first half of 2012, ranking the country number 15 in the world, the Fars News agency quoted the World Steel Association as saying in its June report.

 

Iran produced 1.2 million tons of crude steel in June, 3.5 percent lower compared to the previous month, according to the report.

 

The world’s total crude steel output in June fell by 0.1 percent – at 128 million tons – compared to the same month in 2011.

 

The Iranian Deputy Industry Minister Vajihollah Jafari said on April 9 that the country’s crude steel output is projected to reach 55 million tons by 2025.

 

“The output stood at 12.7 million tons last year,” he said, adding that Iran also had produced some 16 million tons of steel products.

 

Iran will become one of the world’s main steel exporters by March 2016, Industry, Mine and Trade Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari said in May 2011.