Turkey’s 8-month steel exports surpassed the foreign sales in the 12-month period of last year and reached $13 billion 232 million.
According to the data compiled from the Aegean Exporters’ Associations, Turkey achieved a steel export of $12 billion 675 million in 2020. This year, increasing investments around the world also directly affected steel exports. The sector, which breaks a record every month, increased its exports from $7 billion 842 million to $13 billion 232 million in the January-August period of this year, increasing by 69% compared to the same period of the previous year. The sector has already surpassed the total steel exports made last year.
Spain ranked first in steel exports. In the January-August period, exports to this country increased by 117% compared to the same period of the previous year, from $398 million 360 thousand to $865 million 781 thousand.
This country was followed by Israel with $830 million and Italy with $757 million 519 thousand.
“WE EXPECT THE TURKISH STEEL INDUSTRY TO END 2021 WITH $20-22 BILLION OF EXPORT”
Yalcin Ertan, Chairman of the Aegean Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters’ Association, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the steel industry has continued on its way with increasing demand since November last year, after the first shock of the new type of coronavirus epidemic was overcome.
Stating that they expect a new record in steel exports in terms of value this year, Ertan said, “We expect the Turkish steel industry to close 2021 with exports of 23-24 million tons on quantity basis and $20-22 billion on value basis.”
Reminding that Turkey’s second-quarter growth was 21.7%, Ertan stated that the Turkish steel industry grew by 34% in the same period.
Pointing out that the steel industry ranks second after automotive in August exports, Ertan said, “The share of steel in Turkey’s exports was 12%. Crude steel production increased by 17% in the January-July period compared to the same period of the previous year and reached 23 million tons. If we continue at this rate of increase, I think we will reach a liquid steel production figure of about 40 million tons, which is higher than in previous years.”
Mentioning that there has been an increase in steel prices due to raw material and semi-finished product inputs, Ertan stated that prices have started to settle down and normalize since the third quarter and it is predicted that this will continue until the end of the year.
Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz