Turkish crude steel output up 13.7 percent in Q1

According to a statement released by the Turkish Iron and Steel Producers' Association (DCUD), in March this year, Turkey's crude steel production rose by 14.5 percent year on year and was up 13.2 percent month on month, exceeding 3.1 million mt.

In March, of the total crude steel production in Turkey, steel production using electric arc furnaces (EAF) amounted to 2.3 million mt, with an increase of 15.3 percent, while production via blast furnaces rose by 12.1 percent to 822,555 mt, both compared to March 2011.

In the first quarter of the current year, Turkey's crude steel production exceeded 9 million mt, up 13.7 percent year on year. In this period, steel production using EAF amounted to 6.7 million mt, with an increase of 13.8 percent, while production via blast furnaces rose by 13.6 percent to 2.4 million mt, both compared to the first quarter of 2011.

The association noted that the first three months of 2012, Turkey's steel billet output moved up by 17.5 percent, while its slab output climbed by 4.2 percent, both on year-on-year basis.

Tonnage figures are x 1,000 mt.