Turkey’s steel industry closed 2025 with a notable recovery in production, even as global steel markets remained under heavy pressure. According to industry figures, crude steel output in December rose by 18.5% compared with the same month a year earlier, reaching 3.5 million tons. This late-year surge helped lift full-year production to 38.1 million tons, marking a 3.3% increase over 2024.
The rebound was especially significant given that the first half of the year had been weaker. Producers faced rising financing costs and intense price competition from abroad. Still, stronger performance in the final quarter allowed the sector to return to growth and maintain Turkey’s position as the world’s seventh-largest steel producer.
Domestic consumption also remained solid. Final steel product use increased by 3.8% year on year in December to 3.4 million tons. For 2025 as a whole, consumption rose 2.6% to 39.3 million tons, reaching the highest level ever recorded. Industry representatives point to a sharp pickup in demand during the third quarter, when consumption jumped by around 17%, helping offset earlier weakness.
Turkey’s foreign trade data shows a mixed but revealing picture. Steel exports in December increased by 5.5% in volume terms to 1.4 million tons, while export value rose slightly by 2.1% to roughly $899 million. Over the full year, exports grew by 12.5% to 15.1 million tons, worth $10.2 billion. The improvement suggests that Turkish producers were able to keep shipments moving despite a challenging external environment.
Imports, however, continued to create strain. Although steel imports fell sharply in December, total imports for January–December 2025 still climbed by 8.6% to 18.9 million tons, the highest level on record. Russia remained Turkey’s largest supplier, with imports rising nearly 38% to 4.5 million tons. China followed closely, with shipments reaching 4.2 million tons. The increase reflects growing pressure from stronger export pressure from countries facing weaker domestic demand and low-priced and state-supported products in global markets, particularly in Asia.
Despite these challenges, Turkey outperformed the global industry trend. World Steel Association data shows global crude steel production declined by 2% in 2025, while China’s output fell more sharply, down 4.4% for the year. Against that backdrop, Turkey’s ability to post annual growth stood out.
Looking ahead, Turkish steel producers expect 2026 to bring moderate improvement. With inflation and interest rates projected to ease, the sector forecasts roughly 7% growth in both production and consumption. If achieved, crude steel output would rise above 40 million tons.
At the same time, the industry is entering a period of structural adjustment. The European Union is tightening import quotas, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is moving toward full implementation. This means that sustainability performance, emissions reporting, traceability, and energy efficiency will increasingly shape competition, not only cost and volume. For Turkey’s steel sector, 2026 may therefore be a year of both higher output and deeper transformation, as producers work to defend export access while adapting to a more regulated global market.
Sources: https://celik.org.tr/tr/bilgi-merkezi/basin-bulteni/basin-buelteni-aralik-2025
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GÖNÜLTAŞ, Mehmet（Reporter）
Freelance journalist based in Istanbul, Turkey. He writes on international relations and diplomacy, with a focus on Japan–Turkey relations, military affairs, and democratic governance. His hobbies are running, language study, and traveling.
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