[REVISION HISTORY]

Iran Mercantile Exchange and industrial sector trends

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2026-10-31 14:01 UTC → 2026-11-04 05:10 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Iran Mercantile Exchange (IME) maintains high activity levels across industrial, mineral, and precious metal sectors. In September 2026, precious metal funds saw significant turnover, with gold and silver funds exceeding 79 trillion tomans in the week ending September 18. Saffron prices also surged, with some symbols reaching 300 million tomans per kilogram. In the steel sector, trading remains robust. In late September, approximately 76 percent of 164,228 tons of listed steel products were sold. Major producers like Khuzestan Steel, Jahan Steel Sirjan, and Isfahan Steel Company continue to offer large volumes of rebar and billets. However, the industry faces significant headwinds. Iranian sponge iron (DRI) production fell by 35.2 percent in September compared to the previous year, contributing to a regional production decline attributed to energy shortages and logistical disruptions. Operational risks are mounting. Alireza Ebrahimi, CEO of MIDCO, warned that winter natural gas shortages pose risks to sponge iron production and the steel value chain. Additionally, the industry is navigating shifting export dynamics. While new currency exchange mechanisms have enabled more direct exports by manufacturers, Iranian producers face intense competition from China, which saw a 166.7 percent increase in steel billet exports to the Persian Gulf region during the first eight months of 2026. In the aluminum and cement sectors, companies such as Iran Aluminum Company and Shahrud Cement Company continue to schedule large-scale supplies. Recent IME data for the week ending October 9 shows physical market trades exceeding 156 trillion tomans, led by the National Iranian Copper Industries Company. By the week ending November 8, the IME physical market recorded the trade of approximately 3,228,000 tons of various commodities, valued at over 163,200 billion tomans. National Iranian Copper Industries led sales value with 23,859 billion tomans from copper and sulfuric acid trades. Mobarakeh Steel Company followed with 10,225 billion tomans from steel sheet sales, while Khuzestan Steel Company ranked third with 7,554 billion tomans. In the precious metals sector, gold funds recorded a transaction value of 64,700 billion tomans.

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