Turkey's steel product exports to the European Union in the first eight months of 2011 rose by 100 percent year on year to 2.73 million metric tons, according to the data provided by the Istanbul Mineral and Metals Exporters' Association (IMMIB). The region was one of Turkey's major export markets, accounting for 22.5 percent of its total steel product exports. In January-August 2010, this figure was recorded at 12.15 percent.
In the January-August period of this year, Turkey's steel product exports to Italy amounted to 1.05 million metric tons, up 330 percent compared to the 244,268 mt recorded in January-August 2010, Romania followed Italy, with 255,605 metric tons, increasing by 22.3 percent year on year.
In the given period, Turkey's steel product exports to the UK, totaled 237,379 metric tons, rising by 24.5 percent, exports to Spain came to 215,589 metric tons, climbing by 50.5 percent, exports to Germany stood at 183,587 metric tons, up 60.9 percent, exports to Belgium increased by 150 percent to 163,998 metric tons and exports to the Netherland increased by 51.2 percent to 141,680 metric tons, all compared to the corresponding period of 2010.
In the January-August period, flat steel constituted Turkey's most exported product to the EU, accounting for 46.8 percent of the country's total steel product exports to the region. Flat steel product exports, including hot rolled, cold rolled, coated and other product exports to the EU totaled 1.28 million metric tons in the first eight months of 2011, rising by 293.26 percent year on year.
Meanwhile, steel pipe exports to the region amounted to 571,182 metric tons, increasing by 40.35 percent compared to the year-ago period, and accounting for 20.92 percent of Turkey's total steel exports to the EU.