Publish Date: 12 May 2004 - 17:32

TEHRAN May 12 (MNA) -- Producing about 160,000 tons annually, Iran ranks 30th in the world and follows the Emirates and Bahrain in third place for aluminum production in the Middle East, reports said here on Wednesday.

According to the experts in the field, regarding the relative advantages of aluminum production over similar products, Iran could by 2021 become number one in the region and ten in the world.

 

Some experts predict that Iran’s aluminum production could hit 1,700,000 tons annually, 600,000 tons of which would be used domestically and 1,100,000 tons to be exported abroad. This would mean that 2.6 percent of the world aluminum would be produced in Iran.

 

Currently, the U.S., producing about 6,000,000 tons, China at 4,900,000 tons and Russia with 3,900,000 tons a year are the major aluminum producers in the world. China plans to produce 7,100,000 tons by 2007 hoping to rank first in aluminum production in the coming years.

 

RA/DWN/IS

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MNA