Iran to produce 16 million tons of steel by 2006
Iran will produce 16 million tons of steel with the help of private sector in the framework of Fourth Economic Development Plan. According to the Association of Steel Producers, total unprocessed steel production in Iran amounted to 8.36 million tons last year all of which was produced by state-owned plants. In addition to that 700'000 tons of steel exported last year while 1.78 million tons were imported. According to the Third Economic Development Plan's projections, production of unprocessed steel should have increased to 14.7 million tons, but the target was not materialized. The latest reports reveal that the current domestic production capacity for unprocessed steel reached about 12 million tons. Moreover, it is reported that steel production must reach 16 million tons by 2006.