Turkish steel mesh export volumes expand on back of foreign projects

SteelOrbis has been informed by market sources that prices for 6 mm steel mesh in the Turkish domestic market have decreased by TRY 0.025/kg ($12/mt) since last week and are now standing at TRY 1.335-1.355/kg ($659-669/mt) ex-mill, exclusive of VAT.
 
Market players state that the fluctuations in the US dollar-Turkish lira exchange rate have been affecting domestic price levels, while there have been slight decreases in demand levels in the Turkish domestic steel mesh market. In the meantime, the increasing number of steel mesh producers in the Gebze region has resulted in an intensification in competition levels in the region and so steel mesh prices are trending downwards in Gebze.
 
As for the export side, Turkish steel mesh offers to Turkmenistan have remained unchanged since last week and are still in the range of $680-700/mt FOB.
 
With the urban transformation law which came into force in Turkey back in May 2012, the growth in the Turkish domestic market transaction volumes has gained momentum, while a similar gradual growth is also seen in export markets. Market sources state that projects undertaken by Turkish contractors in foreign countries, including Iraq and Turkmenistan, have led to increased steel mesh exports. Consequently, susbstantial increases are expected in the Turkish steel mesh export volume this year, amid the acceleration of such projects.
 
$1 = TRY 2.026