According to a statement released by the Turkish Steel Producers’ Association (TCUD), in December last year crude steel production increased by 18.5 percent year on year to 3.5 million mt in Turkey, the world’s seventh largest steelmaking country, while in 2025 production rose by 3.3 percent year on year to 38.1 million mt. In December, Turkey’s billet and slab production amounted to 2.23 million mt and 1.29 million mt, up 16.5 percent and 22.1 percent year on year, respectively. In 2025, Turkey produced 24.2 million mt of billet, up 6.1 percent, against 13.91 million mt of slab, down 1.2 percent, both compared to 2024.
In the given month, finished steel consumption in Turkey rose by 3.8 percent year on year to 3.4 million mt, while in 2025 the country’s finished steel consumption increased by 2.6 percent year on year to 39.3 million mt.
In December, Turkey’s steel exports rose by 5.5 percent to 1.36 million mt, while the value of these exports increased by 2.1 percent to $898.87 million, year on year. In 2025, the country’s steel exports rose by 12.5 percent to 15.1 million mt, while the value of these exports increased by 4.3 percent to $10.16 billion, both year on year. Flat and long product exports in 2025 amounted to 6.48 million mt and 5.11 million mt, respectively, with increases of 11.9 percent and 9.8 percent year on year, respectively, while semi-finished product exports amounted to 618,745 mt.
In December, Turkey’s steel imports decreased by 18.6 percent to 1.48 million mt, while the value of these imports moved down by 16.6 percent to $1.03 billion, both year on year. In 2025, the country’s steel imports increased by 8.6 percent to 18.8 million mt, while the value of these imports moved up by 0.7 percent to $13.08 billion, both year on year. Looking at the imported products, flat and long product imports in 2025 amounted to 8.94 million mt and 1.51 million mt, respectively, with increases of 10.4 percent and 11.5 percent year on year, while semi-finished product imports amounted to 8.42 million mt.
In 2025, Turkey’s steel export to import ratio increased to 77.63 percent, from 73.91 percent recorded in 2024.
According to the TCUD, 2025 was recorded as an extremely challenging period for the Turkish steel industry. Rising financing costs, together with global price pressure stemming from dumped and subsidized products, particularly from Russia, China and other Far Eastern countries, placed a heavy burden on producers’ costs. The intensifying export pressure in Russia, China and Far Eastern countries caused Turkey’s steel imports to reach 18.9 million mt, the highest level in history. The increase in imports of dumped and subsidized steel products also contributed to Turkey’s foreign trade deficit rising by 11.9 percent to $92.9 billion in 2025.
Although Turkey’s steel production capacity increased to 61.9 million mt in 2025, the sector’s capacity utilization rate declined from 74.8 percent to 61.6 percent.
Meanwhile, the TCUD stated that the EU’s efforts to tighten quotas and restrict Turkey’s steel exports have increased pressure on the country’s steel exports. In addition, with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism entering into force, 2026 will mark a period in which competition will increasingly be shaped by a sustainability approach covering the entire product life-cycle.
Within this framework, in 2026:
• the implementation of tonnage restrictions on steel imports,
• positive outcomes to be achieved in negotiations with the European Commission,
• and a decline in inflation and interest rates are expected to lead to an approximately seven percent increase in steel production and consumption, with production exceeding 40 million mt.