The Turkish Steel Producers Association (TCUD) has said that, because of the state of the domestic market in Turkey and the lower margins in the export markets which started in 2018 and has continued in the first few months of 2019, Turkey’s finished steel production and exports are unlikely to reach 2018 levels in the current year. However, if input prices return to levels that can support steel production and if protectionism subsides in the export markets, it might be possible to achieve 2018 export figures, the TCUD added.
According to the TCUD, the 19.5 percent decline in Turkish crude steel output in January indicates that the Turkish steel industry might incur some production and export losses in the coming period. The association drew attention to steel imports of 14.5 million mt in 2018 amid a 19.5 percent decline in production.
To be able to support domestic production in Turkey, the TCUD stressed that it is important to implement customs duties and trade policy measures to keep imports in check, as in many other countries such as the US, Canada and the EU.