Turkish finished steel consumption plunged -39% on-year in January-February to 3.4 million tonnes, according to Turkish Steel Producers Association (TCUD) data monitored by Kallanish. Finished steel output fell -23.6% to 5mt.

This means the fall in February was less steep than in January when consumption and production dropped -43.3% and -26.8% on-year respectively.

Lower domestic consumption was offset by a 17% on-year rise in February steel exports to 1.87mt. Flat products exports increased 38.6% to 641,000t, but longs exports dropped -4.1% to 760,000t. Semi-finished product shipments abroad surged four-fold to 136,000t.

This took two-month steel exports up 17% on-year to 3.8mt, with longs shipments down -4.5% but semis and flats exports up 267% and 44.5% respectively.

Turkish steel imports, meanwhile, declined -30.6% in February to 853,000t, with flats down -14.4% to 536,000t and longs down -44.3% to 69,000t.

Two-month imports decreased -31% to 1.8mt, with flats down -20.2% and longs down -29%.

For every 100t of steel imports, 177t were exported in February, compared to 117t in February 2018.

Turkish rebar exports in February sunk to an 8-month low of 362,658t (see Kallanish passim).