Posted on 20 Feb 2019
Turkish crude steel production fell -19.5% on-year in January to 2.57 million tonnes, according to the Turkish Steel Producers Association (TCUD). Various Turkish mills reduced capacity utilisation last month due to continued weak domestic demand coupled with a reduction in export orders, Kallanish notes.
The tonnage is Turkey’s lowest monthly production since September 2015.
Billet production in January slumped -31% to only 1.52mt, while slab output rose 6% to 1.05mt. Electric arc furnace-based output was down -26.5% to 1.6mt and oxygen converter-based production fell -4.7% to 966,000t.
Turkey’s slowing economy has hampered steel consumption since mid-2018, depriving Turkish producers of sales in their domestic market. Turkish finished steel consumption declined -15% on-year in 2018 to 30.6mt, a drop equivalent to 5.4mt, having risen 11.5% in the six months through June 2018 (see Kallanish passim).
