Turkish scrap imports surged 21% on-year in August to 1.9 million tonnes, according to Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) data monitored by Kallanish. Their average value was $352.3/tonne versus $281/t in August 2017.

Over 98%, or 1.86mt, of the August imports were obsolete scrap. US-origin supply of this scrap type rebounded from a blip in July to 383,194t in August, up over three-fold on-year. This was followed by the Netherlands which supplied 363,779t, up 89%. Belgium and Russia supplied 184,504t and 154,045t respectively, up 49% and down -44%. Intake from the UK plummeted -61% to 125,496t. Notably, Canada supplied 102,601t versus zero in August 2017.

Turkish scrap imports in January-August thus rose 13% on-year to 14.6mt.

Obsolete scrap accounted for 14.39mt, up 13%. The top suppliers were the US, UK and Russia with 2.51mt, 1.98mt and 1.76mt respectively. This was up 26%, up 3% and up 27% respectively.

Imports of billet under HS code 720711, meanwhile, plummeted -72% in August to 38,729t and -57% in January-August to 559,932t.

Like scrap imports, Turkish rebar exports also grew considerably in August, by 56% to 536,27t, while eight-month exports remained down -4% at 3.64mt (see Kallanish passim).