TEHRAN, Dec. 30 (ISNA)-Iran has increased steel production reaching a 12-percent escalation in private section and a 4-percent growth in state companies.

Iran has produced 12 million tones of steel, 9 million of which made by state companies.

Iran's imported steel meeting 30 percent growth in 2007 mostly contains bullions purchased from countries including Russia, China, Ukraine and Kazakhstan to provide the ingredients for its private and state companies.

Iranian companies will be able to provide domestic needs and boost exporting steel to other countries if the government follows appropriate approaches including allocating some budget to purchase the ingredients.

... Payvand News - 12/30/07 ... --