Turkey Steel Exports Rise 3.1% as Imports Fall
Turkey exported 10.3 million tonnes of steel products in January–August 2026, up 3.1% year over year, while imports declined 3.7% to 12.2 million tonnes. Crude steel production increased at a faster 6.8% pace to 26.6 million tonnes.
- Steel exports: Up 3.1% year over year to 10.3 million tonnes in January–August 2026.
- Export value: Increased 2.9% to approximately $7 billion.
- Steel imports: Fell 3.7% to 12.2 million tonnes, while import value declined 4.5% to $8.5 billion.
- Product mix: Long-product exports rose 3.8%, semi-finished exports surged 68.3%, and flat-product exports fell 4.4%.
- Crude steel production: Increased 6.8% to 26.6 million tonnes.
- Import penetration: Imports represented 44.6% of total steel-product consumption and 58.8% of flat-steel consumption.
Turkey's trade position improved during the first eight months of 2026, with exports rising as imports declined and crude steel output expanded faster than domestic finished-steel consumption. The underlying picture remains more complex, however: imported material still supplied 44.6% of total steel-product consumption and 58.8% of the flat-steel segment. The sharp 68.3% increase in semi-finished exports, alongside a 4.4% decline in flat-product exports, also shows that the improvement in overall exports was not uniform across the product mix.
Turkish steel exports increased by 3.1% year over year in volume during January–August 2026 to approximately 10.3 million tonnes, according to data from the Turkish Steel Producers' Association (TCUD) reported by SteelOrbis.
The value of exports increased by 2.9% over the same period to approximately $7 billion.
Semi-Finished Exports Surge 68.3%
Export performance varied substantially by steel-product category during the first eight months of the year.
Shipments of long steel products increased by 3.8% year over year to 5.4 million tonnes, while exports of semi-finished products jumped 68.3% to approximately 738,300 tonnes.
Flat steel exports moved in the opposite direction, declining by 4.4% year over year to 4.2 million tonnes.
| Export Category | Jan–Aug 2026 | Y/Y Change |
|---|---|---|
| Long products | 5.4 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| Flat products | 4.2 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| Semi-finished products | 738,300 tonnes | +68.3% |
August Steel Exports Rise 8.1%
Export momentum strengthened in August, when Turkish steel shipments increased by 8.1% year over year to approximately 1.3 million tonnes.
Export revenue rose by a stronger 12.7% to $930.28 million during the month.
| Measure | Jan–Aug 2026 | Y/Y Change |
|---|---|---|
| Steel exports | 10.3 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| Export value | $7.0 billion | +2.9% |
| Steel imports | 12.2 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| Import value | $8.5 billion | -4.5% |
Steel Imports Fall 3.7% as Trade Coverage Improves
Turkey's steel imports declined by 3.7% year over year during January–August to approximately 12.2 million tonnes.
The value of imports fell by 4.5% to approximately $8.5 billion.
In August alone, imports declined by 8.4% year over year to around 1.4 million tonnes.
Against that backdrop, Turkey's steel export-to-import coverage ratio increased to approximately 83%, from 77% in the corresponding period of 2025.
Imports Still Account for 58.8% of Flat Steel Consumption
Despite the overall decline in import volumes, foreign steel continued to hold a substantial position in the Turkish domestic market.
TCUD said imports accounted for 44.6% of total steel-product consumption during January–August.
Import penetration was even higher in the flat-steel segment, reaching 58.8% of consumption.
Against this backdrop, TCUD has called for measures that would allow quantitative restrictions on imports, particularly material originating from the Far East and Russia.
The association has also urged measures to support domestic steel consumption and accelerate the industry's transition toward higher value-added products.
Ukraine Remains an Important Market for Turkish Steel
GMK Center, citing data from the State Customs Service of Ukraine, reported that Ukrainian imports of Turkish metal products totaled approximately 577,000 tonnes during January–August 2026.
The source reported that Turkish material represented approximately 47% of Ukraine's total steel imports during the period.
Turkish Crude Steel Output Rises 6.8%
Turkey's crude steel production increased by 6.8% year over year during January–August 2026 to approximately 26.6 million tonnes.
August production moved slightly lower, declining by 0.4% year over year to approximately 3.4 million tonnes.
The product mix again showed a wide divergence. Billet production increased only 0.7% to 15.9 million tonnes, while slab production rose by a much stronger 17.3% to 10.67 million tonnes.
| Production / Consumption | Jan–Aug 2026 | Y/Y Change |
|---|---|---|
| Crude steel production | 26.6 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| Billet production | 15.9 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| Slab production | 10.67 million tonnes | +17.3% |
| Finished steel production | 29.3 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| Finished steel consumption | 26.6 million tonnes | +3.3% |
The production data show crude steel output growing at a faster pace than finished-steel consumption during the first eight months of 2026, while slab production recorded particularly strong year-over-year growth.
2025 Steel Production Reached 38.1 Million Tonnes
For comparison, Turkish steelmakers produced 38.1 million tonnes of crude steel in 2025, an increase of 3.3% year over year.
Pig iron production moved in the opposite direction last year, declining by 4.6% to approximately 9.7 million tonnes.
Primary source: Turkish Steel Producers' Association (TCUD), as reported by SteelOrbis.
Ukraine trade data: State Customs Service of Ukraine, as cited by GMK Center.
Courtesy: GMK Center
