Iran’s aluminum production rose by 61%

According to reports I read online the total output in four major aluminum smelters in Iran had reached 0.4468 million tons, up from 0.2783 million tons reported for the year to March 2020. IRALCO had the highest share of production at 185,000 tons. It was followed by Al Mahdi, Iran’s largest aluminum smelter on the Persian Gulf which includes Hormozal smelter, at 165,000 tons. Iran has seen increased activity in its metals and mining sector since the United States imposed sanctions on the country’s crude exports in 2018. Reports suggest that exports of metals have been responsible for a significant portion of the government’s hard currency revenues in recent years. Experts maintain that reinforcement of Iran’s metals and mining sector would diminish the government’s excessive dependence on crude revenues while it would boost jobs and lead to more manufacturing activity in the country.