Turkey’s slab imports down 34 percent in January-March 2026 as main suppliers lose ground

In March this year, Turkey’s slab imports amounted to 179,366 metric tons, up by 34.7 percent compared to February and down by 22.6 percent year on year, according to the preliminary data provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK). Meanwhile, the revenue generated by these imports totaled $83.23 million, increasing by 33.9 percent compared to the previous month and decreasing by 26.7 percent year on year.

In the January-March period, Turkey's slab imports amounted to 617,245 mt, down 34 percent, while the value of these imports decreased by 38.2 percent to $287.13 million, both year on year.

Turkey’s slab imports - last 12 months

In the given period, Turkey’s largest slab import source was Russia, which supplied 295,907 mt, down by 33.3 percent year on year. Russia was followed by Malaysia with 152,718 mt, down by 50.3 percent and Algeria with 69,067 mt, down by 37 percent year on year.

The inclusion of Indonesia and Libya in this year’s list, despite no imports from these countries in the same period last year, pointed to a shift in the supply distribution. Meanwhile, the fact that imports from India fell to zero this year was also notable. The overall picture shows that, as Turkey’s total slab import tonnage declined by 34 percent year on year, purchases from main suppliers weakened, while new sources remained limited in offsetting the overall decline.

Turkey’s top 10 slab import sources in the January-March period this year:

Shares in Turkey’s slab imports - January-March 2026