During an interview with Bloomberg HT, Veysel Yayan, general secretary of the Turkish Steel Producers Association, and Ugur Dalbeler, CEO of Turkish steelmaker Colakoglu Metalurji, evaluated current developments in the Turkish steel sector and called attention to issues including unfair competition due to dumped imports, lack of domestic steel usage in large projects in Turkey, and subsidization by foreign countries.
Stating that the Turkish steel industry does not have any problem with competition when a level playing field is ensured with measures taken against dumped imports, Mr. Yayan indicated that Turkey exported $17 billion worth of steel in 2012 and had set a $50 billion export target for 2023. However, in recent years, Turkey’s steel exports have fallen behind 2012 levels and decreased to $11 billion in 2016, he added.
Mr. Yayan also stated that the usage of domestic steel products in large projects in Turkey is exceptionally important for the Turkish steel industry and he pointed out that some tenders in Turkey are given an international competitive bidding status to pave the way for tax-free imports from successful participating countries. According to Mr. Yayan, it is important to approve the use of Turkish steel products in projects, as it is in the US.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dalbeler also drew attention to the importance of the emergence of new capacities in Turkey that will meet today's needs in the steel industry. The Colakoglu Metalurji CEO stated that the Turkish steel industry should be profitable in order to be able to continue its investments. The Turkish steel industry is losing its competitiveness day by day and it needs to examine this issue and put forward solutions that will increase competitiveness, he added.