Turkish steel companies are enjoying increasing export volumes and international recognition due to developments in the industry in recent years, according to a top business representative. A recent demolition process at an old stadium reflected the quality of poor material usage in a steel importer country, while local steel firms today have become a major actor, he says
The improving quality of Turkish steel, particularly in the last decade, has paved the way for the nation to market goods across the world, especially in the Gulf region and the Middle East, according to the Turkey Iron and Steel Producers’ Association, or DÇÜD.The country exported 8.14 million tons of iron and steel products to the Middle East and the Gulf region last year, which represents some 46 percent of Turkey’s total iron and steel exports, said Veysel Yayan, secretary general of the DÇÜD. The destruction process of a prominent football stadium in Turkey, Ali Sami Yen, which was home for the Galatasaray football team from 1964 to 2010, showed the low quality level of some older buildings in the country, Yayan said. “Only one-fifth of the required amount of iron was used during the construction of the stadium as they observed during demolishing."
Working carelessly, and more important, importing the whole construction iron need of the country were the main reasons for this situation, he said. “However, Turkey today has come to a position to be able to meet expectations of developed countries. While the country was importing a great part of its construction iron before, it became today the world’s leading exporter.”
In parallel to rapid development in the steel sector after 2000, Turkey posted the third highest growth in its steel production, after China and India, Yayan said.
Currently, Turkish steel is preferred by the Gulf countries, Singapore and the United States, thanks to its quality, he said. “The Gulf region and the Middle East have a great place in Turkey’s total iron and steel exports.”
Stadium projects in Russia, Qatar
“Despite lower iron and steel prices offered by Russia and Ukraine, Turkish goods are preferred by many thanks to both quality and reliability of Turkish companies,” he said.Turkish steel will mark some cities in Russia and Qatar as the home of infrastructure and stadium construction works for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, according to Yayan.
While Turkey was not able to use iron at the level of world standards in the construction of its stadiums, Turkish companies are now keen to undertake projects for upcoming World Cups, he said.Turkish companies, which revealed iron and steel exports worth of $2 billion and undertook construction businesses worth of $26 billion in Russia until now, will try to take a $3.8 billion share in stadium projects, Yayan said. “In addition to infrastructure works, Russia plans to allocate a total of $3.8 billion to renovate three stadiums and construct 13 new stadiums.”Turkish companies revealed construction businesses worth $8.3 billion in Qatar until now, he said, adding that they exported iron and steel totaling $25 billion to the Gulf countries.“Qatar will provide investment opportunity worth of $24 billion only in the transportation field. The country also plans to build 12 stadiums totaling nearly $3 billion in seven cities,” he said.
“Turkish steel used in the highest skyscrapers built in the nearby geography, Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, the Saudi Arabia and Qatar now will be used in the world’s state-of-art and high-tech stadiums,” he said.