Turkey's flat steel exports declined for the first time since 2016, and Egypt leads the Arab countries

Turkey's flat steel exports fell below 2 million tonnes for the first time since 2016 despite a significant expansion of cooperation with North African and Middle Eastern countries. Turkey's flat steel (sheets and coils) exports amounted to about 1.77 million tonnes, down 31.4% year-on-year, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK). Meanwhile, Turkey boosted its exports to the Middle East and Africa region, with the African continent consuming nearly 27% or 484,064 tonnes. Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria are the principal importers with a volume of 229,272 tonnes, 102,231 tonnes, and 51,009 tonnes, respectively, with an increase of +75.4%, +22.2%, and +38.5%, respectively. Despite the exports’ decline to the Europe region by 42%, which amounted to 0.85 million tonnes, Europe remained the primary destination with a share of 48% of Turkish exports. Exports to the American region declined by 94% in 2022, reaching 29,152 tonnes, which decreased from 20% in 2021 to 2% in 2022. The data showed that December steel flats exports decreased by 72.1% to reach 86,433 tonnes and about 80% of them were exported to the Middle East and North African countries. The remaining part was distributed between Europe 12%, the Commonwealth of Independent States 3%, sub-Saharan Africa 1%, and the Americas 1%.