According to the data provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), in December last year Turkey's total hot rolled coil (HRC) exports amounted to 110,959 metric tons, up 14.3 percent compared to the previous month and more than triple compared to December 2011. December witnessed the fifth consecutive month of month-on-month increase in Turkey's hot rolled coil exports, reaching the highest level recorded in 2012.

However, in the whole year of 2012, Turkey's hot rolled coil exports amounted to 719,037 mt, falling by 49.5 percent from 2011 level, which constituted an all-time annual record for Turkey's hot rolled coil exports.

Turkish HRC exports to the European Union during last year fell by 57.55 percent compared to the previous year, following four consecutive years of increase, amounting to 507,673 mt. On the other hand, as can be seen in the chart below, Turkey's largest export destinations for hot rolled coil are mostly the EU countries.

Meanwhile, Turkey's hot rolled plate exports last year totaled 198,352 mt, increasing by 40.25 percent, while its hot rolled sheet exports rose nine percent to 120,918 mt, both compared to 2011. The country's hot rolled plate exports reached an all-time record last year, while 2012 was the third consecutive year of increase for Turkey's hot rolled sheet exports.