TEHRAN During the first five months of the current year (January-May), Iran's steel production reached 2,852,000 tons.

"The figure, showing an increase of 3 percent compared to the previous year's rate, can meet some 62 percent of the Middle East countries' needs for steel products, which stands at 4,531,000 tons," it said.

It further noted that Qatar, with a 16 percent growth during the period, stands first among the region's countries in steel production.

According to the report, the average steel production of the commonwealth of independent states over the five-month period, except for Kazakhstan, which suffered a decrease of 17 percent, shows no change.

"Meanwhile, because of the severe downturn in world markets for steel in 2000, U.S. steel production, the highest in the world, saw for the first time a 13 percent decrease at less than 39 million tons," it added.

It said Hungary, with some 8,865,000 tons of steel production during the same period -- which shows an increase of 20 percent compared to last year's figure -- stood first in the world, followed by Taiwan, with some 7,867,000 tons during the same period, which indicates a 14-percent growth.