China has increased its presence in the Turkish steel market in the current year, according to the data released by the Turkish Iron and Steel Producers' Association (TCUD). In the January-April period this year, Turkey's steel imports from China increased by 236.2 percent to 669,000 mt, with a value of $627 million, up 82 percent, both compared to the same period of 2014.
According to the TCUD, in the first four months this year Turkey's overall billet imports from China totaled more than 50,000 mt, while there were hardly any billet imports from China in the same period of last year. As regards Turkey's other steel imports from China, Turkey's flat steel imports reached 410,000 mt, up 568.9 percent, long steel imports amounted to 85,000 mt, up 145.9 percent, steel pipe imports increased by 18.1 percent to 78,000 mt, while imports of other steel products were up 22.9 percent to 45,000 mt, all year on year.
In April alone, Turkey's steel imports from China reached 102,000 mt, up 98.9 percent year on year. In the month in question, there were no billet imports from China, while flat steel imports from this source increased by 186.6 percent to 45,000 mt, long steel imports totaled 18,000 mt, up 107 percent, and pipe imports from China reached 30,000 mt, up 68.4 percent, all year on year.