Ahmet Özkan talked about its expectations for 2023

Ahmet Özkan from Dempaş Demir, who is among the speakers, talked about his expectations for 2023.

Özkan, who started by talking about the supply-demand balance, underlined that new players should step in from the supply side because the ongoing capacity increases may create pressure on the supply side.

Stating that he has positive expectations on the demand side, Ahmet Özkan said, "We expect the credit taps to be opened in the first half on the demand side." He predicts that the opening of credit taps will positively affect the demand for KGF increase.

Talking about the price issue, Özkan said, "The search for balance will continue. Possible decreases in cost (scrap, energy, etc.) will accelerate the balancing process." 

Among the 2023 targets, protectionist measures were also mentioned. He underlined that new measures should be taken and existing measures should be increased in order to prevent unfair competition from manufacturers.

Ahmet Özkan also mentioned the results of 2022

Contrary to the expected contraction in demand at the end of 2021, it was stated that 2022 was closed with tonnage growth, albeit in the 3rd and 4th quarters.

Saying that he expected high profits among the results of the Russia-Ukraine war, Özkan said that the Far East's use of energy advantage quickly turned profits into losses by lowering prices.

The inclusion of Europe in the energy shortage created an expectation that the steel demand would turn to Turkey. However, the decreasing demand and high stock levels in Europe turned the market search to the Far East.

Talking about the competition in the domestic market, Özkan said, "With the decrease in exports in 2022, the interest in the domestic market increased. This situation increased the competition in the domestic market."