Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 16
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:
Iran can export 13 million tons of steel annually, if the existing obstacles are removed, a member of the Iranian Steel Producers Association (ISPA) Reza Shahrestani told the Young Journalists Club (YJC), Trend reports.
According to him, taking into account the current conditions and sanctions, steel exports will make up 8.5 million tons this Iranian year (started March 21, 2019).
He added that Iran has more than 10 million tons of additional steel.
Shahrestani said that 25 million tons of steel were produced and about 8.5 million tons exported last Iranian year (March 21, 2018 - March 21, 2019).
Touching on the existing problems, he pointed out that there are problems with exports alongside restrictions imposed by the Iranian Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade.
"Many people are taking advantage of the situation and illegally exporting steel," he added.
Shahrestani noted that over one million tons of steel were smuggled out of the country last year. In is words, if export problems are not addressed, then smuggling will increase this year.
The US imposed sanctions on Iran in November 2018 and subsequently expanded the list of sanctions.