In the January-November period of this year,
Turkey's steel exports decreased by 5.8 percent year on year to 15.83 million mt, while the value of these exports totaled $12.49 billion, down 4.6 percent, both on year-on-year basis, according to the data released by the Turkish Steel Exporters' Association (CIB). Meanwhile, in November alone,
Turkey's steel exports decreased by 21.7 percent year on year to 1.18 million mt, while the value of these exports totaled $906 million, down 19.9 percent, both on year-on-year basis.
In the January-November period of this year,
Turkey's main steel export destination was the Middle East, which received 5.5 million mt, down 22.6 percent year on year. The Middle East was followed by the EU countries, North America and North Africa, which imported 2.6 million mt (up three percent year on year), 2.3 million mt and 1.7 million mt of Turkish steel products respectively.
On the other hand, in the first 11 months this year
Turkey's main exported steel product was rebar with total rebar exports amounting to 6.9 million mt. Rebar was followed by steel pipe exports totaling 1.7 million mt, steel profile exports reaching 1.6 million mt, and hot rolled flat steel exports amounting to 1.5 million mt.
"The reasons for the 5.8 percent decline in
Turkey's steel exports in the first 11 months this year can be explained by the political fluctuations in our primary export markets, the antidumping and safeguard investigations that we are struggling with, and by Chinese trade activity which is contrary to WTO regulations while becoming a threat for our steel exports.
China, which already has a fifty percent share in the world's steel exports with over 800 million tons, is gradually increasing its exports. With the government assistance it receives and with its inability to increase its domestic steel demand,
China is becoming a serious threat for Turkish steel producers," said Namık Ekinci, chairman of the Turkish Steel Exporters' Association.