Turkiye increased imports of pig iron from Ukraine by 60% y/y in August 2022

Steel enterprises of Turkiye in August 2022 increased the import of pig iron from Ukraine by 60% compared to the same month of 2021 – up to 20.9 thousand tons. This is evidenced by the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute, reports SteelOrbis.

In January-August 2022, deliveries of Ukrainian pig iron to Turkiye amounted to 121.43 thousand tons, which is 41.7% less than in 8 months of 2021. The decrease in the indicator is mainly related to the war in Ukraine and the blockade of Ukrainian seaports, which makes the traditional way of delivering products to customers impossible.

In total, in 8 months of 2022, Turkiye imported 1.07 million tons of pig iron, which is 38.7% more than in the same period of 2021. In August, imports amounted to 147.8 thousand tons – having increased by 14.2% m/m and by 2.9% annually.

The main supplier of pig iron to Turkiye is Russia. In 8 months of 2022, deliveries of Russian pig iron to Turkiye increased by 2.6 times – up to 699.72 thousand tons. Brazil is in second place – 212.2 thousand tons (+80.06%), and Ukraine is in third place. The share of Ukraine in the total volume of pig iron imports to Turkiye is 11%, Brazil – 20%, and the Russian Federation – 65%.

As GMK Center reported earlier, Ukrainian steelmakers in August 2022 increased pig iron production by 20.9% compared to July – up to 335 thousand tons. In 8 months, 5.15 million tons of pig iron were produced, which is 64% less than in the same period of 2021.

The export of pig iron from Ukraine in August 2022 decreased by 29.9% compared to July and by 71.4% year-on-year – to 100.4 thousand tons. In January-August 2022, Ukraine exported 877.6 thousand tons of pig iron. This is 59.6% less compared to the same period in 2021.

Also, in 2021, Turkiye increased imports of pig iron from Ukraine by 8.8% compared to 2020 – up to 295.5 thousand tons. Supplies from Ukraine accounted for 25% of the total volume of pig iron supplies.

Turkiye ranks seventh in the world in terms of steel production. According to WorldSteel, in 2021 the country increased its steel output by 13% compared to 2020 – up to 40.4 million tons.