According to data released by the Turkish Steel Producers' Association (TCUD), the strong increase in production recorded in June offset the slowdown experienced in the first months of the year.
Final steel product consumption increased by 0.4% year on year to 3.1 million mt in June, while consumption in the January-June period rose by 6.6% to 19.9 million mt.
According to foreign trade data, steel product exports increased by 28.4% year on year in volume to 1.7 million mt in June, while export value rose by 29.7% to USD 1.2 billion. In the first six months of the year, exports increased by 2.5% year on year in volume to 7.8 million mt and by 1.3% in value to USD 5.3 billion.
Steel product imports, on the other hand, declined by 0.8% year on year in volume to 1.8 million mt in June, while import value increased by 3.7% to USD 1.2 billion. In the January-June period, import volume rose by 0.3% to 9.3 million mt, while import value decreased by 2.4% to USD 6.3 billion.
As a result of these developments, the export-to-import coverage ratio improved from 80% in the first half of 2025 to 83% in the same period of 2026.
Middle East and South America supported the recovery in exports
Commenting on the data, TCUD Secretary General Dr. Veysel Yayan stated that Türkiye maintained its position as the world's seventh-largest crude steel producer, ahead of Germany, adding that the slowdown seen in the first five months of the year was reversed thanks to the strong performance recorded in June.
Yayan said that strong demand from the Middle East and South America played a key role in the recovery of production and exports. Steel exports to the Middle East increased by 80% year on year to 212,600 mt in June, while exports to South America surged by 406% to 182,500 mt.
In the first six months of the year, exports to the UK rose by 246% to 407,000 mt, while exports to South America increased by 81% to 643,000 mt. In contrast, the European Union market maintained its weak outlook. During the same period, steel product exports to the EU declined by 22% to 2.6 million mt, making it the only regional market where exports decreased.
TCUD: Eximbank support should be strengthened
Yayan emphasized that Türkiye's steel industry should accelerate its transition to higher value-added production to improve its competitiveness, stressing the importance of supporting investments in energy efficiency, low-carbon production, and technological modernization through long-term and affordable financing.
In this context, Yayan said that Eximbank support should be strengthened, access to investment loans should be facilitated, and financing opportunities for the sector should be expanded. He added that, considering Türkiye's crude steel production capacity of approximately 62 million mt, growing domestic consumption, and export potential, it is vital for the industry that trade policy measures against imports causing unfair competition be implemented more effectively and decisively.
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