According to a statement released by the Turkish Iron and Steel Producers' Association (TCUD), Turkey's crude steel output has continued to decrease amid low demand in international markets, the surplus supply in the world steel industry, strong competition from China, trade measures by countries seeking to protect local producers, lower demand in Turkey because of uncertainties in the economy and the additional costs that restrict the Turkish steel industry.
In July, Turkey's crude steel production decreased by 10.4 percent year on year and was down 10.7 percent month on month to 2.54 million metric tons. In July, Turkey's crude steel output by electric arc furnaces declined by 17.4 percent to 1.58 million metric tons, while crude steel production by integrated plants increased by 4.2 percent to 957,000 metric tons, both year on year.
Meanwhile, in the first seven months of the current year Turkey's crude steel production decreased by 6.3 percent year on year to 18.99 million metric tons. In the given period, Turkey's crude steel output by electric arc furnaces declined 12.3 percent to 12.38 million metric tons, while production by integrated plants increased by 8.2 percent to 6.35 million metric tons, both year on year.
In the January-July period, Turkey's billet output decreased by 5.3 percent to 13.84 million metric tons, while its slab output declined by 9.2 percent to 4.89 million metric tons, both on year-on-year basis.