In May, of the total crude steel production in Turkey, steel production using electric arc furnaces (EAF) amounted to 2.37 million mt, with an increase of 11.8 percent compared to May 2011 and decreasing 4.9 percent month on month, while production via blast furnaces fell by 7.4 percent year on year to 714,000 mt, up 11.6 percent compared to April this year.
In the first five months of the current year, Turkey's crude steel production amounted to 15 million mt, up 10.4 percent year on year.
2011 |
Jan-May 2011 |
Jan-May 2012 |
Year-on year change (%) |
|
Billet |
24,400 |
9,856 |
11,162 |
13.3 |
Slab |
9,707 |
3,724 |
3,825 |
2.7 |
Total |
34,107 |
13,580 |
14,987 |
10.4 |
EAF |
25,275 |
10,007 |
11,273 |
12.7 |
BOF |
8,832 |
3,573 |
3,714 |
3.9 |
Tonnage figures are x 1,000 mt.
The DCUD stated that, in line with the economic recession, the growth rates of global steel production and consumption have maintained their trend of deceleration since the final quarter of 2011. Together with the economic and political problems in the EU and in the Middle East, a similar slowing trend has been observed in Asian markets which have been the driving force of the steel sector during the last decade, increasing concerns about the future of the steel sector.
The association also noted that Turkey's steel product exports have continued their growth trend despite all the negative conditions in the export markets. The growth trend in the January-May period was mainly ensured by turning towards alternative markets following the sharp decreases in export tonnages to the EU.