Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.24
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iran produced over 26 million tons of iron stone in the first 9 months of the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 21, 2013, the Mehr News Agency reported on Jan.24.
Nine major iron production companies produced 26.057 million tons of iron ore in granular and concentrate forms, showing a 7 percent rise compared to the same period last year.
Iranian state-run and private iron ore production companies exported 12 million tons of iron ore in the first nine months of the current year, IRNA reported on Jan. 8.
Iron ore exports are projected to hit 20 million tons by the end of the current year.
Iran exported 20 million tons of iron ore in the previous calendar year, which ended March 20, 2013.
In September 2013, Mohammad Habibi, an official of Iran's Iron Ore Producers and Exporters Union, predicted that the amount would be increased by 10 percent in the current calendar year.
He expressed hope that the tax problems would be solved soon so that iron ore exports are boosted.
Iranian officials say the country's domestic need for steel production units caused a sharp decline in the country's iron ore exports last year.
China, Russia and Kazakhstan are among the few trade allies still providing a lifeline to Iran's vital steel and iron ore sector after most Western suppliers and buyers have cut ties due to growing sanctions pressure, Reuters reported in May.
