Iranian apparent finished steel consumption grew 7% on-year in the nine months through 21 December 2017 to 15.22 million tonnes. This is according to Iranian Steel Producers’ Association (ISPA) data published on ISPA’s online Chilan portal.

Hot rolled coil was the most-consumed product at 6mt, up 7% on-year. Rebar use, though, dropped -13% to 4.26mt and sections use was flat at 661,000t. Cold rolled coil and coated coil consumption was up 32% and 34% respectively to 2.25mt and 1.38mt.

Semi-finished steel use remained unchanged on-year at 11.48mt. Billet use rose 4% to 5.9mt, but slab consumption fell -3% to 5.52mt.

Iranian direct reduced iron consumption fell -6% in the nine months to 16.02mt.

Iranian nine-month finished steel imports, meanwhile, dropped -38% on-year to 1.66mt (see Kallanish 17 January). Weak slab consumption has been offset by slab exports which grew 134% in the nine months to 2.03mt. Billet exports rose 52% to 2.58mt.