In March this year, Turkey's total hot rolled coil (HRC) exports remained practically unchanged year on year at 142,213 metric tons, while increasing by 20.80 percent compared to the previous month, according to the data provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK). These exports had a value of $83.11 million, decreasing by 1.24 percent year on year and up by 18.85 percent compared to February.
Meanwhile, in the first quarter this year, Turkey's HRC exports decreased by 22.07 percent to 339,498 mt, while the value of these exports fell 23.13 percent to $198.12 million, both on year-on-year basis.
In the first quarter, Turkey's HRC exports to Italy, which was the leading destination for Turkey's HRC exports in 2013, decreased by 67.89 percent year on year to 63,027 mt, with Italy continuing to rank first among Turkey's HRC export destinations. In the given period, Turkey's HRC exports to Portugal remained almost stable, amounting to 47,778 mt, while its HRC exports to the US increased by 11.10 percent to 33,691 mt, both on year-on-year basis. Meanwhile, Portugal was Turkey's top HRC export destination in March this year.
Turkey's top 10 HRC export destinations in January-March this year are as follows:
| Country | Amount (mt) | |||
| Jan-Mar. 2014 | Jan-Mar. 2013 | Mar.14 | Mar.13 | |
| Italy | 63,027 | 196,260 | 28,676 | 49,178 |
| Portugal | 47,778 | 47,402 | 29,264 | 22,956 |
| USA | 33,691 | 30,326 | 405 | 11,080 |
| Canada | 28,525 | 50 | 28,525 | - |
| Morocco | 28,324 | 2,450 | 1,738 | - |
| Thailand | 24,906 | 1,034 | - | - |
| Greece | 17,890 | 8,291 | 6,519 | 2,549 |
| Spain | 17,303 | 45,385 | 17,303 | 24,167 |
| Romania | 13,446 | 19,044 | 3 | 9,056 |
| Belgium | 12,919 | 21,321 | 8,322 | 1,973 |
Turkey's main HRC export destinations in the first quarter this year are as follows:
