Posted on 21 Jun 2018
Turkey is working towards a stronger export position in the flat-rolled market, though progress remains slow, Borçelik export manager Ersun Ozdemirel told delegates Wednesday at the Kallanish Europe Steel Markets 2018 conference in Antwerp.
Turkey commands a positive export position in coated coil only, though the absolute numbers are fairly small - 64,000 tonnes exported compared with 16,000t imported as of April 2018. By comparison, Turkey imported about 1.52 million tonnes of hot-rolled in April and exported just 905,000t.
Turkish investment in flat-rolled is growing, Ozdemirel notes. From just three players with a total of 1.3mt in 2005, Turkey will host eight players with a total of 5.6mt by the end of 2018.
This growth is checked, somewhat, by a variety of factors, Ozdemirel says. Russian investment in hot-dipped galvanized is increasing, and both auto and white good buyers are running at close to full capacity.
There is also potential for trouble due to the US' 232 steel tariffs and European Union safeguard measures. Ozdemirel says however that the safeguard impact should be minimal due to the relatively low volumes Turkey ships to the EU.
Borçelik is a joint venture between Turkey's Borusan Holding and top global steel producer ArcelorMittal.
