Iranian Minister of Industry and Trade Minister Nematzadeh said Iran is working to improve the steel industry chain, from mining to the final production of steel products, and steel exports are creating higher value for the country. Therefore, Iran must stop the export of iron ore, to focus on increasing the export of steel.

    As of March 20, 2017 the last Iranian year, Iranian steel exports amounted to 6.6 million tons, while the 2014 Iranian export volume of only 200,000 tons. Iranian iron ore production from three years ago, 28 million tons to 46 million tons. With the new pellet plant production, pellet production from 21 million tons rose to 31 million tons, is expected to soon reach 45 million tons. Direct reduced iron production has also risen to 30 million tons.

   As of June 21, Iran's slab and billet exports increased by 211% and 5% year-on-year to 944,000 tonnes and 751,000 tonnes, respectively, and rebar exports increased 175% to 187,000 tonnes.