In the first quarter of the year, production increased by 5.3% to 9.7 million tons. According to data released by the Turkish Steel Producers Association (TÇÜD), domestic demand also showed a strong trend in line with the increase in production.
In March 2026, finished steel consumption rose by 20.9% year-on-year to 3.2 million tons, supported by base effects. In the first quarter, consumption increased by 8.9% to 9.9 million tons.
Looking at foreign trade data, steel product exports in March increased by 5% in volume to 1.5 million tons and by 0.5% in value to $1 billion. However, in the first quarter, exports decreased by 6.8% in volume to 3.5 million tons and by 9.4% in value to $2.3 billion compared to the same period of the previous year.
On the import side, a notable increase was recorded in March. Steel product imports rose by 38.2% in volume to 1.6 million tons and by 23.4% in value to $1.1 billion. In the first quarter, imports increased by 2.6% in volume to 4.3 million tons, while in value terms they declined by 1.5% to $3 billion. As a result, the export-to-import coverage ratio fell from 84.5% in the first quarter of 2025 to 77.8% in the same period of 2026.
Globally, the contraction trend in steel production continued. According to World Steel Association (worldsteel) data, global crude steel production in March 2026 decreased by 4.2% year-on-year to 159.9 million tons. In the January–March period, production declined by 2.3% to 459.2 million tons. In the same period, China’s production fell by 4.6% to 247.5 million tons, while India’s production increased by 10.8% to 44.7 million tons and the U.S. production rose by 5.7% to 21 million tons.
Türkiye should more actively protect its steel sector against dumped imports
TÇÜD Secretary General Veysel Yayan stated:
“In the first quarter of the year, Türkiye’s crude steel production increased by 5.3% to 9.7 million tons. Meanwhile, with the acceleration in consumption in March, steel consumption rose by 8.9% to 9.9 million tons. Although export performance, which declined in the early months of the year, showed signs of recovery in March with a 5% increase in volume to 1.5 million tons, total steel product exports in the first quarter still decreased by 6.8% in volume to 3.5 million tons compared to the same period of 2025.
Tensions in the Middle East are reshaping global supply chains, and the more cautious approach of Chinese producers regarding orders due to cost pressures has opened a new window of opportunity for Türkiye. Geographical proximity and quality advantages have made Turkish steel more visible in the European market, and demand shifts similar to those seen in past crisis periods may re-emerge.
However, the rapid rise in scrap and energy prices, along with increases in freight and insurance costs, has put upward pressure on production costs, becoming key factors challenging the sector’s competitiveness. Scrap prices approaching $400 per ton in global markets have become a significant factor squeezing producers’ margins.
On the other hand, new regulations adopted by the European Union to restrict imports have become one of the most important agenda items for the sector. In this context, while the EU, with a population of approximately 450 million, has taken very strict measures by reducing its import quota to around 18 million tons, citing low capacity utilization rates similar to Türkiye, imports of approximately 20 million tons of steel products into Türkiye—a country with about one-fifth of the EU’s population and a capacity utilization rate of 61.6%—have reached unsustainable levels, especially with a 38% increase in March.
At a time when protectionism is rapidly spreading across both developed and developing countries in the steel sector—with countries such as India and Indonesia building their growth on steel industry developments and the United Kingdom declaring steel a critical sector and announcing a 60% reduction in quota levels—it is of vital importance for Türkiye to more actively protect its steel industry against dumped imports.”
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