Giving a speech at the SteelOrbis Market Discussion Meetings' Iskenderun session, MMK Metalurji managing director Yury Bodyaev stated that the MMK facilities located in Istanbul and Iskenderun have highly surprising characteristics, adding that they are able to carry out production with cutting-edge technology at these facilities.
More than 150 industry representatives attended the 4th SteelOrbis Market Discussion Meetings held on October 7, Friday, in Iskenderun, sponsored by MMK Metalurji.
Speaking at the meeting, MMK Metalurji domestic sales manager Cem Ustun noted that MMK Metalurji, with a production capacity of 2.3 million mt of crude steel in Iskenderun, is the only mill in Turkey that can cast thin slab, adding that they are the leader in Turkey in terms of color coated sheet output capacity. Mr. Ustun introduced the production capacities and products of MMK Metalurji and stated that they aim to have a complete product mix, once they start to import cold rolled sheet from MMK's facilities in Russia, mostly for the needs of the exporting industries. Mr. Ustun underlined that, thanks to their steel service centers, they are organized to meet all the requirements of end-users and they intend to offer the shortest lead times. Mehmet Cakmur, export manager of MMK Metalurji, said that they will also focus on export markets with long-term contracts, using the advantage of Iskenderun's location. Mr. Cakmur also pointed out that they have an export target of 20-30 percent of production.
At the SteelOrbis Market Discussion Meetings' Iskenderun session, attendees reached a consensus on the negative impact of price volatility in the steel market and confirmed that Turkish contractors' recently discussed concerns over speculation on domestic rebar prices are also the result of price volatility. Against the price fluctuations, the role of price indexes and futures market were also discussed at the meeting.
Speaking at the meeting, Corbus Metal chairman Salim Metin assessed the long steel market in Turkey and in Iskenderun in particular, saying that the Iskenderun steel market also covers North Iraq, Iran and Syria, at least before the political upheaval in the latter country. "In early November, the rebar market in Iran may see some revival with the Feast of Sacrifice," Mr. Metin said. Emphasizing the importance of the stability of the US dollar/Turkish lira exchange rate, Mr. Metin stated that an upward price movement is likely in the Turkish rebar market, as the market inventory levels are low and even the slightest improvement in demand may push up long steel prices.