Turkey exported 11.4 mln tons of steel in the first nine months of 2025, up 12.1pct YoY, with export revenues increasing 3.8pct to USD 7.7 bln, according to the Turkish Steel Producers’ Association (TCUD). In September, exports rose 7.6pct to 1.4 mln tons, though their value dipped slightly by 0.2pct to USD 900.5 mln.
Steel imports during the same period climbed 17.2pct to 14.2 mln tons, valued at USD 9.9 bln (+3.6pct YoY). In September, imports reached 1.5 mln tons (+12.1pct YoY), worth USD 1 bln (+3pct YoY).
Crude steel production increased 1pct to 28.1 mln tons, including a 7.2pct YoY rise in September to 3.2 mln tons. Finished steel consumption rose nearly 4pct to 28.9 mln tons in January-September, with September demand up 9.6pct to 3.1 mln tons.
Commenting on the data, TCUD noted that Turkey, alongside India and the U.S., was among the few countries to record production growth, maintaining its position as the world’s seventh-largest steel producer. However, it warned that global trade barriers, including the U.S. 50pct tariff, the EU’s proposed safeguard cuts, and similar measures in Mexico and Canada, have increasingly restricted export markets, redirecting surplus steel toward Turkey.
The association stressed that, with domestic steel consumption rising, meeting demand through local production has become critical. Despite having sufficient capacity, Turkey’s capacity utilization rate remains low at 63pct, while imports account for nearly half of total consumption.
TCUD called for protective measures similar to those in the U.S. and EU, such as quotas and tariffs on imports exceeding set limits, to help restore competitiveness and boost domestic output.
