Turkey’s steel exports rose 14pct YoY in the first seven months of 2025 to 8.8 mln tons, according to the Turkish Steel Producers’ Association (TCUD). Export value increased 5.4pct to USD 6 bln. However, July exports fell 8.5pct to 1.1 mln tons, with value dropping 10.9pct to USD 800 mln.
Steel imports surged in the same period, rising 17.8pct to 11.1 mln tons, while value edged up 3.7pct to USD 7.8 bln. July saw a sharp spike, with imports climbing 55pct YoY to 1.8 mln tons, worth USD 1.3 bln.
Crude steel production dipped 0.9pct in January-July to 21.5 mln tons, though July output rose 4.2pct to 3.2 mln tons. Finished steel consumption increased 1.7pct in the first seven months to 22.2 mln tons, including a 31.1pct surge in July to 3.6 mln tons.
Commenting on the figures, TCUD noted that crude steel output fell 0.9pct while scrap imports declined 6.1pct due to higher inflows of semi-finished products. Despite strong July demand, production growth of 4.2pct lagged far behind import growth of 55.1pct. Imports from China in particular jumped 169pct in July to 513,000 tons, making up 28pct of the total.
For January-July, Russia led Turkey’s imports with a 73pct increase to 2.6 mln tons, followed by China (+32pct to 2.4 mln tons), South Korea (+32pct to 1.3 mln tons), and Malaysia (+20pct to 1.2 mln tons). TCUD highlighted that China’s exports to Turkey, just 390,000 tons five years ago, could approach 5 mln tons by year-end.
These figures show that major global steel producers, facing weak domestic demand, are increasingly targeting Turkey, TCUD said. We have reached the point where words are no longer enough, swift and comprehensive import-limiting measures are urgently needed, TCUD added.
