According to the Turkish Steel Producers’ Association (TCUD), Turkey’s steel exports rose by 17.3pct YoY in the first four months of 2025, reaching 5 mln tons. Export value also increased by 7.6pct to USD 3.6 bln. In April alone, exports climbed 14.4pct YoY to 1.2 mln tons, with their value rising 6pct to USD 813 mln.
Meanwhile, steel imports in January-April 2025 edged up 0.9pct YoY to 5.6 mln tons, though the value declined 6.6pct to USD 3 bln. However, April saw a reversal, with imports falling 9.1pct YoY to 1.4 mln tons and value down 13pct to USD 1 bln.
Turkey’s crude steel production slipped 1pct YoY in the first four months of 2025 to 12.3 mln tons. Yet, April marked a recovery, with output rising 7pct to 3 mln tons.
Turkey’s finished steel consumption fell 6.3pct YoY in January-April to 12 mln tons. April consumption also declined, though at a slower pace, down nearly 3pct YoY to 3 mln tons.
TCUD noted that Turkey’s ascent to the 7th largest crude steel producer globally was partly due to a 10pct decline in German output in April. On the demand side, the association highlighted a 13pct rise in long steel consumption, which helped soften the sharp 23pct drop in total finished steel use seen in March.
Looking at broader industry risks, TCUD pointed to the OECD’s latest findings that global steel capacity now exceeds demand by more than 600 mln tons, a figure expected to grow. Of growing concern is the rise in low-cost exports, particularly from China, to markets like Turkey.
TCUD warned that global overcapacity not only fosters unfair trade through dumped exports but also undermines decarbonization efforts by eroding profitability. Another challenge is the tightening of global scrap export rules. While EU scrap consumption has increased, reduced exports have led to a 20pct drop in Turkey’s scrap imports from Europe over the past five years.
To safeguard the sector’s sustainability, TCUD called for stronger measures, including diversifying scrap supply sources, curbing dumped imports from Asia, reforming the Inward Processing Regime to favor local supply, and boosting the steel industry’s contribution to Turkey’s current account balance.