Turkiye increased imports of pig iron from Ukraine by 85% y/y in October 2022

Steel enterprises of Turkiye in October 2022 increased the import of pig iron from Ukraine by 85.2% compared to the same month of 2021 – up to 12 thousand tons. This is evidenced by the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute, reports SteelOrbis.

In January-October 2022, deliveries of Ukrainian pig iron to Turkiye amounted to 133.43 thousand tons, which is 43.9% less than in 10 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 11 months of 2022, Turkiye imported 1.23 million tons of pig iron, which is 31.1% more than in the same period of 2021. In October, imports amounted to 59.04 thousand tons, which is 45% less month-on-month and 20.2% more year-on-year.

The main supplier of pig iron to Turkiye is Russia. In 10 months of 2022, deliveries of Russian pig iron to Turkiye increased by 2.09 times – to 816.2 thousand tons. Brazil is in the second place with 250.2 thousand tons (+2.1 times), and Ukraine is in the third place. The share of Ukraine in the total volume of pig iron imports to Turkiye is 11%, Brazil – 20%, and the Russian Federation – 66%.

As GMK Center reported earlier, Ukrainian steelmakers in October 2022 increased production of pig iron by 12.6% compared to September – up to 349 thousand tons. In 10 months, 5.81 million tons of pig iron were produced, which is 67% less than in the same period of 2021.

Export of pig iron from Ukraine in October 2022 decreased by 63.9% compared to September and by 64.4% year-on-year – to 72.15 thousand tons. In January-October 2022, Ukraine exported 1.15 million tons of pig iron. This is 56.5% 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 World Steel, in 2021, the country increased its steel output by 13% compared to 2020 – up to 40.4 million tons.