Iron Ore Production Beginning to Grow Again

In the five months of this year, iron ore production in Azerbaijan totaled 36.3 thousand tons, which is 30% less than for the same period in 2014. However, JSC Azerbaijan Steel Production Complex (ASPC) that modernized the Dashkesan ore-processing plant from December 2014 to March this year intends to achieve production of 150 thousand tons.

According to the State Statistics Committee, in May the company produced 14.4 thousand tons of iron ore concentrate. The concentration of iron is not less than 65%, which has increased the competitiveness of the ore in the market.

ASPC told Turan that in June it is planned to produce 20 thousand tons of ore. Today, production capacity is 350 thousand tons per year. By 2018, when they are ready for commissioning the business of smelting steel and metal production, the power of the ore-processing plant will be increased to 1.7 million tons per year, they noted in the company.

In the five months of this year 65% of iron ore was sold on the local market. The buyers are enterprises for the production of cement.

According to the State Customs Committee, exported to Georgia were 9,000 tons of iron ore. A ton of the commodity was sold at $ 40, $ 6 more than in 2014.

In 2014 ASPC produced 91.4 thousand tons (- 35.4%) and exported abroad (Panama and Georgia) 73.3 thousand tons. Revenue from exports was $ 2 million 517.2 thousand. -----08B