The main agenda of the iron and steel industry is 'circular production'

In order to support its members in this transformation and harmonization process Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters' Association discussed domestic and foreign good practice examples the effects of the European Union Green Deal on the iron and steel industry in a webinar organized with the cooperation of the Steel Foreign Trade Association and the contributions of the Turkish Steel Producers Association.

In the webinar moderated by Çiğdem Önsal, Deputy Secretary General of Aegean Exporters' Association, Secretary General of Turkish Steel Producers Association Dr. M.Veysel YAYAN and Bilecik Demir Çelik A.Ş. General Manager Muammer BİLGİÇ shared his knowledge and experience with the participants.

Yalçın Ertan, President of Aegean Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters' Association, said, “The past 2021 has been a good and productive year for all steelmakers and the non-ferrous metals industry. Although it looks good when we look at the figures of the first six months of this year, we, as Aegean Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters' Association, reached an export figure of 2 billion 241 million dollars last year and 2.6 billion dollars in the last year. However, as of April of this year, our production balances started to deteriorate due to the discounted raw materials and semi-finished products that came to our country from Russia and a limited number of them went to other countries. In addition, the rapid decline in Iron-Steel prices caused a contraction in demand with the fear of whether it would decrease further. Add to this the low demand in the domestic market.” said.

Ertan said, “While the world steel industry has been in a difficult process since 2018 due to protectionist measures, in the first half of 2020, after the contraction experienced due to the pandemic, the accumulated demand in the second half caused price increases in both raw materials and finished products. Even though the problems continue in 2021 with the deterioration in the supply chains, our exporting companies have managed to strengthen the sector again by adapting quickly to the developments.” he said.