Ferro-alloys.com：According to a statement issued by the Turkish Iron and Steel Manufacturers Association (TCUD), Turkish crude steel production in January this year increased by 12.7% year-on-year to 3.4 million tons. Turkey is the seventh largest steel producer in the world and the largest steel producer in Europe, with a crude steel output of 35.8 million tons in 2020. In January of this year, Turkey maintained this status.

In January this year, Turkish finished steel consumption increased by 15.1% year-on-year to 3.1 million tons. The country's long-term product consumption increased by 32.9% year-on-year, while its single product consumption increased by 2.2% year-on-year.

That month, Turkish steel exports fell 15.5% to 1.3 million tons, and the value of exports fell 1% year-on-year to 749 million US dollars.

In January of this year, due to the rapid growth of international market demand and Turkish steel manufacturers focusing on the domestic market and insufficient supply, Turkish steel imports fell by 14.3% to 1.2 million metric tons, and these imports increased by 12.2% year-on-year to US$872 million.

The association stated that since June last year, Turkey's crude steel production has entered an upward trend, and this trend has been maintained in January this year. If the trend of crude steel production continues, by the end of this year, crude steel output may exceed 38 million tons. In 2021, the safeguard measures implemented by third countries and the signal of China's return to the global steel market will increase the barriers to Turkish exports. Turkey's steel exports to the EU fell by 36.6% year-on-year under continuous safeguard measures. The European Commission has launched an investigation on whether the safeguard measures will continue to be implemented, which will expire in July this year. The Turkish Steel Producers Association stated that because the safeguards violated the free trade agreement between Turkey and the European Union, Turkish imports need to be controlled by giving priority to local supplies. 

• [Editor:zhaozihao]