According to a statement released by the Turkish Iron and Steel Producers' Association (TCUD), in January-May this year Turkey's finished steel production rose slightly, while its consumption saw a stronger increase, both compared to the same period last year. The country's finished steel production amounted to 14.6 million mt in the given period, up by 1.9 percent year on year.
Of the total finished steel production in the first five months, 72.1 percent consisted of long steel products, while 27.9 percent was accounted for by flat steel products. Turkey's flat steel production amounted to 4 million mt in January-May, with an increase of 10.2 percent, while domestic production of long steel products fell by one percent to 10.5 million mt, both compared to January-May 2012.
Meanwhile, Turkey's total steel product consumption in the first five months of the current year came to 12 million mt, rising 4.1 percent compared to the same period last year. A 3.1 percent year-on-year increase was recorded in the consumption of long steel products in the period in question. In January-May, Turkey used 6.2 million mt of long steel, while the country's flat steel consumption in the given period was 5.8 million mt, increasing by 5.2 percent compared to January-May 2012.