TURKEY DATA: Imports of HRC rise 18% to 486,600 mt in Jan

Turkey imported 486,600 mt of hot-rolled coil in the first month of 2022, 18% higher year on year, according to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK).

Imports from Ukraine totaled 106,000 mt in January, 20% lower on the year, while Russia supplied 76,000 mt, down from 136,300 mt in the same month of 2021.

Russia was Turkey’s top HRC supplier in 2021 at 1.93 million mt, 57% higher year on year, while imports from Ukraine totaled 1.17 million mt last year, up from 707,700 mt in 2020.

With shipments from these countries having collapsed in recent days due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Turkish HRC prices have increased more than $300/mt since the beginning of the month to over $1,200/mt EXW on March 8.

Turkey’s HRC imports from the UK increased notably in January to 70,000 mt versus zero in January 2021, the TUIK data showed.

Some EU countries also increased their HRC shipments to Turkey in January. France shipped 49,000 mt, up 69% year on year, while the Netherlands supplied 42,500 mt versus just 1,600 mt in January 2021.

Turkey’s other HRC suppliers in January 2022 were: Japan (22,300 mt), Slovakia (20,800 mt), Romania (19,500 mt) Spain (18,300 mt), Italy (11,800 mt), Germany (11,200 mt) and Japan (10,000 mt).

— Cenk Can