Turkey’s steel exports rose by 18.6pct YoY in the first half of 2025, reaching 7.7 mln tons, according to the Turkish Steel Producers’ Association (TCUD). Export revenues grew by 8.8pct to USD 5.2 bln. In June alone, exports climbed 21.5pct YoY to 1.4 mln tons, while their value rose 13.3pct to USD 931.3 mln.
Steel imports during the same period increased by 12.6pct to 9.3 mln tons. However, import value dipped slightly by 0.3pct to USD 6.5 bln. June saw a sharper surge, with imports up 52.4pct YoY to 1.8 mln tons, though their value dropped nearly 29pct to USD 1.2 bln.
Crude steel production fell 1.7pct YoY in the first half to 18.3 mln tons. June output declined 3.5pct to 2.9 mln tons.
Finished steel consumption decreased 2.6pct in the January-June period, totaling 18.6 mln tons. However, demand recovered in June, rising 8.8pct to 3.1 mln tons.
According to TCUD, finished steel consumption dropped 7.3pct in Q1 2025 but rebounded by 2.3pct in Q2. Full H1 consumption was split between 9.5 mln tons of long products and 9.1 mln tons of flat products.
Foreign trade data pointed to a widening steel trade deficit with the Far East and Russia. Imports from the Far East rose 9.9pct to 4.7 mln tons, while exports to the region fell 29pct to just 592,000 tons. Imports from Russia surged 74.5pct to 2.2 mln tons, while exports plummeted 73.6pct to 111,000 tons. Market insiders attributed the trend to higher semi-finished steel imports.
Turkish exports to Latin America also dropped sharply, falling 29.5pct to 355,000 tons. In contrast, exports to the EU rose 38.6pct to 3.4 mln tons.
TCUD raised concerns about the sharp rise in imports, especially in June, warning that it is putting domestic producers under pressure. The association specifically pointed to the inward processing regime as a contributing factor and called on authorities to urgently review the scheme.
