Posted on 07 Nov 2019
Turkish iron ore imports surged 33% on-year in September to 775,065 tonnes, according to Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) data monitored by Kallanish. This brought an end to consecutive months of decline. Their average value was $132/tonne versus $80/t in September 2018.
Brazil was the main supplier with 490,237t, up 30%. Although supply from Russia and Ukraine fell drastically to above 29,000t each, Canada provided 164,259t versus zero a year earlier.
Turkish scrap imports also surged in September, by 39% to 1.71 million tonnes (see Kallanish passim). Mills thus replenished raw materials stocks that month after a prolonged period of reduced buying.
In January-September Turkish iron ore imports thus rose 2% on-year to 7.93mt. Brazil, Sweden and Canada were the top three suppliers in that order.
Turkish iron ore exports, meanwhile, slumped -60% in September to 51,236t. Romania increased intake almost four-fold to 44,327t, but China took in little over 1,000t versus 79,000t last year and Algeria was absent compared to 30,000t intake last year. Average price was $72/t versus $61/t in September 2018.
Nine-month exports nevertheless still surged 66% to 782,161t, with Romania, Algeria and China the top three markets in that order.
