Iran’s export of aluminium to surge in 2017: to expand smelting capacity in 2018

Iran has aluminium production capacity of 457,000 ton/year, of which about 437,000 ton/year is operational. According to the latest figures from the customs office, the country produced 128,679 tonnes of aluminium in the first five months of the current Iranian year (ending Aug. 22).

Iran’s export of aluminium is estimated to jump in 2017. Top importing countries are Turkey, Taiwan, China, South Korea and India.

As shown by our data, in the year 2015, the total aluminium export by Iran was 77236 tons. In 2016, the estimated export was 99023 tons. For 2017, the aluminium export by Iran is estimated to be about 120868 tons.

The revenue from aluminium export was US$ 139 million and US$ 164 million respectively for the years 2015 and 2016. The revenue from export is estimated to be about US$ 214 million in 2017.

The country has planned to add 336,000 tonnes of primary aluminium smelting capacity in 2018. The planning manager of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), Amir Sabagh, told S&P Global Platts.

He said that South Aluminum Company or Salco is building a 300,000-ton/year unit in Asaluyeh. The unit is expected to start production in late 2018. IRALCO is also boosting its aluminium capacity in the Jajarm region by 36,000 tons/year in 2018.