Major Turkish steel producer Colakoglu Metalurji will shortly increase its hot rolled coil (HRC) production capacity. The development will allow the company to expand product supplies to the domestic and foreign outlets in line with buyers’ needs and the relevant market situations.
According to sources, Colakoglu Metalurji will increase its HRC production capacity from the current 3 million mt per year to 4.5 million mt through the earlier announced project to increase its slab reheating capacity. Market players consider that the launch of the new facility will be seen in mid-August and will potentially increase the company’s hot rolling capacity by around 80,000 mt per month. Previously, the start was scheduled for July, SteelOrbis learned. “It will require larger slab imports and a better market situation, but it is always better to have the possibility to produce more when the market needs it,” a player commented.
Recently, Turkish integrated producer Isdemir has started to slowly return to HRC market with offers, following the earthquake-related production problems. The company operates a capacity of 3.5 million mt of HRC per year. In addition, MMK Metalurji, a subsidiary of Russia’s MMK, is to shortly restart operations at its 2.3 million mt meltshop including HRC production, following around a month of suspension.