Namık Ekinci: Tonnage matters more than export revenue

During the panel discussion at the SteelOrbis Market Talks Meeting held in Gaziantep in southeastern Turkey on February 13, Namik Ekinci, chairman of the Turkish Steel Exporters' Association (CIB),  discussed Turkey's steel export figures for January this year, indicating that the country's steel exports increased by 1.5 percent in terms of tonnage, while they decreased by 4.5 percent in value, both year on year, though a stronger year-on-year decline in value had been seen in January 2012.
 
Ekinci pointed out that in January of the current year Turkey's hot rolled sheet exports increased by almost 90 percent, while the unit price declined by 14.6 percent, year on year, underlining that in export tonnage matters more than revenue. The CIB chairman stated that the 33.6 percent year-on-year fall in Turkey's steel exports to the EU was due to the overall decrease in flat product exports, while the EU still ranked second among Turkey's steel export destinations. 
 
Mr. Ekinci said that the 2013 outlook is positive, though the steel industry should overcome problems such as the contraction in foreign markets. As an example of a contraction in foreign markets, he pointed to the desire of the US to limit exports to Iran, adding that antidumping duty investigations also contribute to contractions in foreign markets. Ekinci went on to say that, although the five percent import duty exemption on rebar for rebar cutters and benders in Dubai will not be removed, the notice that local UAE cutters and benders will be under strict control amid reports of some illegal practices has impacted Turkey's exports to the country.
 
According to Mr. Ekinci, in 2013 Turkey's steel exports will increase to 22.5 million mt, with the steel export value expected to rise by 20 percent year on year to $18.5 billion. In 2012, Turkey's total steel product exports amounted to 19.9 million mt, while the revenue generated by these exports totaled $15.6 billion.