Onur Yener said, “For us, 2026 will be a year of establishing a solid position and strengthening ourselves with the right partners, rather than aggressive volume targets.”
How do you assess the first months of 2026 for the steel sector?
The first months of 2026 point to a cautious but direction-seeking period for the global steel sector. While there is no strong and homogeneous recovery on the demand side, energy, defense, and infrastructure investments are creating selective movement in certain product groups.
How did Türkiye's steel exports perform during this period?
Türkiye's data shows that volume-based pressure continued at the beginning of the year. Total steel exports in the period from January 1 to February 19, 2026, declined by more than 15% compared to the same period last year. Declines of approximately 25% in construction steel, 16% in flat steel, and 34% in wire rod were recorded. This picture reveals that global demand weakness and price-focused competition continue.
“Demand-driven pressure on final product prices continues.”
How are developments in global markets affecting the sector?
The approximately 28% monthly decline in steel coil imports in the US and double-digit drops in structural pipe exports indicate that global trade volume is stagnating. In parallel, anti-dumping measures and end-of-period reviews confirm that protectionism will remain on the agenda in 2026. On the cost side, a relatively balanced but fragile structure is observed. As of February 2026, scrap prices range between USD 368–375/ton, while coking coal trades at around USD 250/ton. Although input prices remain relatively stable, demand-driven pressure on final product prices persists, making margin management more critical.
On the other hand, while the green steel transition is gaining momentum, hydrogen-based production is still 20–30% more costly than traditional production. However, with the introduction of SKDM and ETS reforms, carbon transparency and sustainable production capabilities will become a competitive advantage by 2026.
What are your priorities for 2026 at YenerSteel?
For us, 2026 will be a year of management shaped by financial discipline and cash flow management rather than aggressive volume-focused growth, where selective market and product strategy will be decisive and risk optimization will be central.
At YENERSTEEL, in 2026, we position controlled and sustainable growth, long-term, trust-based business partnerships, deepening in value-added and project-based product segments, and commercial discipline centered on risk management as strategic priorities.
For us, 2026 is a year of solid positioning and strengthening with the right partners, rather than aggressive volume targets. While anticipating continued market volatility, we believe that this process can be transformed into sustainable opportunities through a strong financial structure, strategic supply management, and a selective growth approach.
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