Page 69 - IRANRptSep22

9.1.10 Metallurgy & mining sector news
Iran reportedly launches third titanium processing plant
Iran’s steelmarkets and cement producers report production, market gains
Iran targets doubling of building material exports to Russia
Iran has reportedly put its third titanium processing plant into operation. The 27,000-tonne/year production unit has been launched in Rudab Sabzevar, in northeastern Iran’s Razavi Khorasan province, where the number of titanium mineral processing and chromite concentrate units has risen in recent years, according to Press TV.
Titanium minerals are used to make titanium sponge. The sponge, in turn, is turned into lightweight, high-strength metal for industrial applications used in high-end aerospace, marine and auto production.
China is the world's top producer of titanium sponge, accounting for 57%, or 210,000 tonnes, of global output last year, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Japan is second with 17%, followed by Russia with nearly 13%. Other sources include Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Vietnam and Mozambique. Iran launched its first titanium processing plant—with the capacity to produce 130,000 tonnes/year of titanium dioxide concentrate and 70,000 tonnes/year of titanium dioxide slag—in 2016.
In June 2020, Iran commenced mining a heavy mineral sands prospect in Qara-Aghaj, near Urmia in West Azerbaijan province. It is estimated to hold 120mn tonnes of titanium-bearing ores.
Iran is ranked among the world’s 15 major mineral-rich countries, with 68 types of minerals. Its mineral potential is not, however, fully mapped.
Iran’s steelmakers produced 18mn tonnes of semi-finished and finished steel products in the first four Persian calendar months (March 21-July 21), compared to 15.98mn tonnes in the same period of the previous Iranian year, according to the Iranian Steel Producers Association.
The Iranian Cement Association, meanwhile, reported a 34% y/y gain in Iran’s cement demand in July to 5.36mn tonnes. Cement production was 5.6mn tonnes versus 4.38mn tonnes in July of last year.
Breaking down its data, the steel association said semi-finished steel output rose 11% y/y to 10.58mn tonnes. Billet and boom production rose 9% y/y to 6.28mn tonnes, while slab output was 4.3mn tonnes, up 13% y/y. Finished steel products output grew 15% y/y to 7.42mn tonnes, with long steel production accounting for 4.19mn tonnes of the volume.
The cement association noted that 0.81mn tonnes of clinker were exported from Iran in July, up from 0.3mn tonnes a year ago. Total clinker output was 5.24mn tonnes, up from 3.95mn tonnes in July 2021.
According to the "Vision Plan" of the Islamic Republic, by 2025, Iran’s total steel production capacity should reach 55mn tonnes/year, with the export volume expected to reach 10-15mn tonnes.
Iran is targeting a near doubling of building material exports to Russia, deputy head of economic diplomacy at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Mehdi Safari, said on August 8.
He spoke with particular reference to cement, plaster and ceramic tiles. The ambition is another indicator of how rapidly Iran hopes trade and investment with Russia will expand as Moscow firms ties with countries it sees as able to help it reorientate its economy in the face of the waves of sanctions directed at the Russians by the West in response to the late February invasion of Ukraine. In ceramic tiles, Iran will have to compete with India, which is rapidly increasing supplies of the product to Russia. However, the Iranians have the advantage of relative proximity to Russia via expanding land routes and sea routes across the Caspian Sea.
69 IRAN Country Report September 2022 www.intellinews.com