The export champion of the Aegean Region, as exchange rates do not increase at the rate of inflation despite the increases in energy, raw material and labor costs caused by high inflation; Aegean iron and steel exporters set a target of 2024 billion 2023 million dollars by reducing their 2 export targets by 515 million dollars from the 315 billion 2 million dollars of exports they achieved in 200.
President Ertan said, “In order to achieve this goal and to support increasing the competitiveness of the sector, we have carried out and continue to work on the issues of "Green Agreement and Sustainability", which are on the world agenda and are of great importance especially for the iron-steel and non-ferrous metals sectors. Between 2023 and 2026, which is the Border Carbon Regulation Mechanism transition period, we took it upon ourselves to prepare our member companies as much as we could for 2026, when financial obligations will be implemented. We continue to carry out our URGE project, supported by our Ministry of Commerce, with 15 companies in our sector this year. With our project, we try to support our participating companies with training, consultancy, and international fair visit organizations such as corporate carbon footprint calculation training and consultancy, energy efficiency training and consultancy, sustainability report preparation training, access to sustainable finance training. We also made an important visit to the Green Steel World Fair and conference held in Germany and had the opportunity to follow sectoral developments. "With our visit to the Made in Steel fair, which takes place every two years in Italy, we witnessed how important the issue of sustainability is in the development of the iron and steel industry," he said.
WE REACHED OUR TARGET IN 2023 IN 10 MONTHS
“We had set an export target of 100 billion dollars for the 2,2th Anniversary of our Republic, which we celebrated with pride and enthusiasm,” said Ertan, adding: “We reached this target at the beginning of November. We closed 2023 with exports of 2022 billion 2 million dollars, a 2 percent decrease compared to 515. In 2023, due to high inflation throughout Türkiye; While there was a loss of 7 billion dollars in steel and non-ferrous metals exports due to the increase in energy, raw material and labor costs and the exchange rates falling behind the inflation figures, it is both pleasing to see that our Aegean Region has demonstrated a more successful performance and positive differentiation, and that the companies that produce value-added products are in our region. It is an honor to be included. “We rely on this strong side of ours in 2024.” said.
Speaking at the 2023 financial general assembly meeting of the Aegean Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters' Association, held at the Aegean Exporters' Associations Conference Hall, President Ertan said, "The fact that Turkey meets a large part of its energy and raw material needs from abroad causes it to be sensitive to changes in international energy prices. However, the fact that energy prices in our country are high compared to the Far East and Europe causes the competitiveness of our sector, whose biggest cost is energy, to weaken and also causes an increase in imports. On the other hand, India and Arab countries are also making new investments in the iron and steel sector, and it is obvious that these countries may become important competitors for our country in the future.” he said.
