Steel production in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region increased 3.9 per cent in August compared with the same month last year driven by Iran, according to the latest data from the World Steel Association (worldsteel).

Iranian crude steel output rose 13.2 per cent to 1.29 million tonnes in August, while Saudi Arabian production was up 3.6 per cent to 464,000 tonnes.

Elsewhere, Qatar’s output increased by 8.3 per cent to 196,000 tonnes, but Egyptian production dropped 8.4 per cent to 490,000 tonnes.

Brussels-based worldsteel reports the steel production of 64 countries representing 85 per cent of the world’s steel output.

Steel demand in the Middle East and North Africa is expected to increase by 6.7 per cent in 2013.