Organized by SteelRadar under the theme “Stronger Together, the Future of Steel,” the summit brought together more than 400 participants and over 200 company representatives from 25 countries at Swissôtel Resort & Spa. During the opening session, Çelik İhracatçıları Birliği President Uğur Dalbeler, main sponsor İzmir Demir Çelik Executive Board Member Feyyaz Yazar, and SteelRadar Chairman Cem Öztüre emphasized the global strength of the Turkish steel industry and its determination to overcome crises.
Following the opening ceremony, the panels addressed in detail global investments, logistics crises, the carbon economy, the stainless steel ecosystem, and macroeconomic indicators.
Raw Materials Panel: Negative Margins Highlighted
One of the most notable sessions of the summit, the Raw Materials Panel, featured S&P Global Energy Middle East Manager Wesley Monteiro, who stated that global logistics crises and rising energy costs have pushed margins in steel raw material markets into negative territory. He drew attention to the fact that ship traffic in the Red Sea and Suez region decreased by 95% due to blockages, emphasizing that the largest price gap in recent years would be seen in the second quarter of 2026. Monteiro also informed participants about price assessment processes and market transparency within the scope of Platts reference prices and methodology during a special workshop held on the third day.
Cross-Border Investments and Global Raw Material Crises Discussed
In the second session of the summit, held under the sponsorship of Blackfort Capital AG, cross-border investment strategies were discussed under the title “Beyond Borders: 2026 Global Investment Opportunities.” Blackfort Capital AG Turkey Desk Head and Executive Director Seda Çelik and Investment Director Olegs Novikovs delivered a comprehensive global market update covering global equity markets, U.S. macroeconomic indicators, FX markets, and developments in fixed-income securities.
Export Competition and Protective Measures in Long Products
In the “Long Products Panel,” moderated by Bilecik Demir Çelik General Manager Uğur Cengiz, trade obligations, domestic market balances, and global competitive conditions were addressed in a holistic framework. Panelists including Algerian Qatari Steel Marketing Director Abdelkadir Khellaf, İzmir Demir Çelik Export Sales Manager Eftal Pehlivan, and Ekinciler Demir Çelik Group Marketing Manager Kaan Özülü discussed withholding practices, raw material–semi-finished product balances, and the impact of capacity utilization rates on sustainability.
Flat Steel Panel: Value-Added Production as a Strategic Necessity
In the seventh session of the summit, the “Flat Steel Panel,” moderated by Galex Steel International Foreign Trade Manager Genco Bolaca, value-added production in flat steel was assessed as a strategic necessity. Panelists including Steel Network Board Member Samy Mohammed, Yıldız Demir Çelik Supply Chain Director Pelin Arkan, Tatmetal Purchasing Director Sinan Küçük, Hangzhou CIEC Group Middle East General Manager Yasin Kanbur, and ArcelorMittal South Africa Executive Franck Wandji analyzed slab production cost optimization, protective measures against hot-rolled coil (HRC) imports, regulations supporting domestic production, and the impact of demand transformation in the European market on export strategies.
The Industry’s New Reality: Carbon Economy and CBAM
The summit dedicated extensive attention to green transformation and carbon costs shaping the future of the steel industry in two separate sessions. In the “Carbon Economy Panel,” moderated by YİSAD Chairman and EUROMETAL Board Member Tayfun İşeri, it was stated that as of 2026, carbon costs in Europe have become the key factor determining pricing and trade flows. Panelists including EUROMETAL President Alexander Julius, Diler Holding Iron and Steel Group CSO Fatih Gökçe, CBAMBOO Founder and CEO Gabriel Rozenberg, and NLMK Europe Business Development and Decarbonization Director Tsanislav Kolev evaluated the impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and emissions data on Turkish-origin steel and shared 2026–2027 competitiveness projections.
In a separate session sponsored by Redshaw Advisors, Anıl Akalın, Head of Environmental Markets Turkey & GCC, addressed financial risk management in the practical implementation of CBAM. He presented the methodology of CBAM certificates and case studies on the Turkish steel industry, outlining risk management strategies for Turkish producers.
In the closing session, Istanbul Topkapı University Rector, economist and author Prof. Dr. Emre Alkin analyzed global economic uncertainties, geopolitical risks, and tightening financial conditions shaping the transformation of industrial policies. Evaluating changes in trade policies, access to finance, and the impact of green transformation on competitiveness, Prof. Dr. Alkin shared short- and medium-term strategic scenarios for the steel sector with participants and officially closed the summi
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