BANDAR ABBAS, Hormozgan Prov. -- A major Iranian aluminum production firm has produced nearly 27,000 tons of aluminum ingot since March 21, marking the start of the Iranian calendar year 1381.

Al-Mahdi Aluminum Production Complex's first seven-month output this year amounted to $36 million, up 80 percent compared to the figure in the same period last year, said the complex Director, Ali-Akbar Golkar in an interview with IRNA on Saturday.

Golkar said the complex runs with 110,000-ton nominal capacity, established in the initial phase.

He revealed that a contract had been signed with a German firm to the tune of 130 million euros to develop the second phase of the complex.

The second phase which is set to be operational in the next two years will produce 110,000 tons of products a year, said the official.

He said executive operations on the project started three months Ago, IRNA reported.