Turkey’s steel exports increased in the first eight months of 2026, while domestic finished steel consumption declined for the second consecutive month in August, according to data from the Turkish Steel Producers Association (TCUD).
In August, steel exports increased 8.1pct YoY to 1.3 mln tons, while export value rose 12.7pct to USD 930.3 mln. During January-August, exports increased 3.1pct YoY to 10.3 mln tons, with export revenue rising 2.9pct to USD 7 bln.
Steel imports fell 8.4pct YoY to 1.4 mln tons in August, while their value declined 1.4pct to USD 1.1 bln. In the first eight months, imports decreased 3.7pct YoY to 12.2 mln tons, with import value falling 4.5pct to USD 8.5 bln.
The export-to-import ratio improved to 83pct from 77pct in the corresponding period last year.
Turkey’s crude steel production edged down 0.4pct YoY to 3.4 mln tons in August. However, during January-August, crude steel output rose 6.8pct YoY to 26.6 mln tons. Capacity utilization increased to 64.7pct from 60.6pct in the corresponding period last year.
Finished steel consumption declined 6.4pct YoY to 3.3 mln tons in August. Despite the monthly decline, consumption during January-August increased 3.3pct YoY to 26.6 mln tons.
TCUD Secretary General Veysel Yayan said the decline in consumption in both July and August had negatively affected year-end expectations. Although Turkey’s overall steel exports increased during the first eight months, shipments to the EU, the country’s largest export market, fell 22pct, making it the only market to record a decline. Exports to South America, meanwhile, rose 67pct YoY to 849,000 tons, supporting efforts to diversify export markets.
Yayan also highlighted that steel imports from the Far East remained high at 6.6 mln tons during January-August, despite the overall decline in imports. He attributed this to the impact of global excess capacity and called for Turkey to implement trade policy and safeguard measures similar to those used by the EU, US, Mexico and Canada to improve competitive conditions for domestic producers.
