The Türkiye stainless steel market maintained strong import volumes in the first half of 2026, while a notable shift occurred in the supplier distribution. According to the “Türkiye Stainless Steel Market H1 2026 Analysis” prepared by Barış Yılmaz, the market is being reshaped around the China-Indonesia-Taiwan axis, while the share of Indonesia and China increased in hot-rolled products.
June Imports Reach 76.3 Thousand Tons
In June 2026, Türkiye’s total stainless steel imports increased by 18% month on month and by 8.5% year on year to 76.3 thousand tons. In the first six months of the year, total imports rose by 7% to 434.3 thousand tons.
According to the report, hot-rolled product imports were the main driver of growth in the first half. HR imports increased by 23% to 200.7 thousand tons, while cold-rolled product imports declined by 3% to 171.4 thousand tons.
China Regains Prominence in CR Imports
In June, cold-rolled stainless steel imports increased by 54% month on month and by 29% year on year to 37 thousand tons. However, total CR imports in the first half declined by 3% to 171.4 thousand tons.
China ranked first among suppliers in June with 16.3 thousand tons, followed by Indonesia with 8.6 thousand tons and Taiwan with 2.4 thousand tons of CR imports.
In the first half of the year, CR imports from China declined by 21% to 76 thousand tons, while imports from Indonesia increased by 22% to 40.4 thousand tons. Imports from Taiwan reached 11.6 thousand tons, nearly doubling.
The analysis noted that the ability of Chinese producers to offer 400 series grades such as 430 and 441, as well as special 300 series grades and a broad product range, supports China’s position in the CR segment in the Türkiye market, where quality and dimensional variety are high.
Indonesia Leads HR Imports
Hot-rolled stainless steel imports increased by 7% month on month to 29.7 thousand tons in June. On a yearly basis, however, they declined by 9.4%. Total HR imports in the first half increased by 23% to 200.7 thousand tons.
Indonesia became Türkiye’s largest HR supplier in the first six months, reaching a volume of 91 thousand tons, up 59%. HR imports from China increased by 91% to 37.9 thousand tons. Imports from South Korea, meanwhile, declined by 17% to 60.2 thousand tons.
Stainless Steel Exports Increase by 8%
Türkiye’s total stainless steel exports increased by 14% month on month and by 41% year on year to 17.1 thousand tons in June. Total exports in the first half rose by 8% to 88.4 thousand tons.
During the same period, CR exports increased by 2.2% to 63.1 thousand tons, while CR exports to the European Union declined by 3.7% to 40.3 thousand tons.
EU’s Annual CR Quota Set at 69 Thousand Tons
The report stated that the new EU annual CR quota was set at 69 thousand tons, creating more limited access compared with the previous level of approximately 84 thousand tons. However, it noted that the impact of the quota structure on a country- and supplier-specific basis could support Türkiye’s relative export position.
The analysis stated that turning this opportunity into commercial value will depend on disciplined quota utilization, strengthening the product mix, and maintaining delivery reliability.
The report also noted that the shift around the China-Indonesia-Taiwan axis is increasing the importance of supply diversification, while rapid growth from Indonesia and China is standing out in the HR segment and product-range competition is coming to the forefront in CR.
It was stated that the first half of 2026 was a period in which not only volume growth but also the transformation in the supply structure accelerated in the Türkiye stainless steel market.
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