In March this year, Turkey’s hot rolled coil (HRC) exports amounted to 288,043 metric tons, up by 53.9 percent compared to February and down by 13.1 percent year on year, according to the preliminary data provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK). Meanwhile, the revenue generated by these exports totaled $160.90 million, increasing by 51.9 percent compared to the previous month and down by 14.5 percent year on year.
In the first three months of this year, Turkey's HRC exports amounted to 606,440 mt, down 15.2 percent, while the value of these exports decreased by 16.0 percent to $340.57 million, both year on year.
Turkey’s hot rolled coil exports - last 12 months
In the given period, Turkey’s largest HRC export destination was Italy with 152,197 mt, down 28.6 percent year on year. Italy was followed by Greece with 62,625 mt, up 26.5 percent, and Spain with 56,274 mt, down 42.1 percent year on year.
In the same period last year, Turkey’s largest hot rolled coil export markets mainly consisted of Italy, Spain, Portugal, Egypt and Greece, while a notable change was observed in this ranking in the January-March period of 2026. Italy maintained its top position despite the decline, while Greece moved up to second place, and Spain remained among the top three despite the decrease in tonnage. Meanwhile, the sharp declines in exports to Portugal and Egypt, which stood out among the leading markets last year, were notable, while strong increases in shipments to markets such as Bulgaria, Romania, Belgium, North Macedonia, Serbia and Iraq changed this year’s export distribution. This picture shows that the losses in Turkey’s traditional major hot rolled coil export markets were partially offset by a shift toward new and growing regional markets.
Turkey’s top 10 HRC export destinations in the January-March period:
| Country | Amount (mt) | |||||
| January-March 2026 | January-March 2025 | Y-o-y change (%) | March 2026 | March 2025 | Y-o-y change (%) | |
| Italy | 152,197 | 213,051 | -28.6 | 108,118 | 131,392 | -17.7 |
| Greece | 62,625 | 49,488 | 26.5 | 30,640 | 13,655 | 124.4 |
| Spain | 56,274 | 97,215 | -42.1 | 33,631 | 42,586 | -21.0 |
| Bulgaria | 34,388 | 4,853 | 608.6 | 34,388 | 4,254 | 708.3 |
| Romania | 33,080 | 14,903 | 122.0 | 18,384 | 5,403 | 240.2 |
| US | 28,497 | 130 | >1000.0 | - | 127 | - |
| Belgium | 27,989 | 2,227 | >1000.0 | 12,751 | 1 | >1000.0 |
| Macedonia | 27,400 | 8,583 | 219.2 | 10,023 | - | - |
| Serbia | 24,941 | 8,986 | 177.5 | 6,221 | 4,760 | 30.7 |
| Iraq | 22,430 | 9,009 | 149.0 | 4,238 | 3,927 | 7.9 |
Shares in Turkey’s hot rolled coil exports - January-March 2026
