As reported by SteelOrbis, Turkish long product manufacturer Kardemir increased its steel production by 2.7% year-on-year to 634,000 tons in the first quarter of 2026, while pig iron output rose by 0.9% to 653,000 tons. Meanwhile, rolled steel sales for this period decreased by 11.6% y/y to 562,000 tons. Against this backdrop, the company returned to profitability, recording a net profit of 24.5 million Turkish liras compared to a significant loss a year earlier. For the market, this is a telling signal: the production base of Turkish mills is strengthening even amid less active sales.
Production Results and Financial Recovery of Kardemir
Current results indicate that Kardemir is maintaining its course toward increasing output, despite mixed market conditions in the long products segment. The growth in steel and pig iron production points to stable utilization of key facilities and the company's drive to utilize its production potential more fully. At the same time, the drop in sales shows that demand is not keeping pace with the rate of supply expansion.
The improvement in financial results is particularly noteworthy. Moving from a net loss of 1.94 billion Turkish liras in the first quarter of last year to a profit of 24.5 million Turkish liras suggests a more balanced operating model, cost control, and likely a better product sales structure. For industry observers, this is an important indicator that Turkish producers are adapting to a volatile environment.
An additional factor is the launch of the new continuous casting machine (CCM) No. 2 in early April, as previously reported by GMK Center. Its annual capacity is 1.2 million tons, and the equipment is designed for producing semi-finished products of various sizes. This enhances Kardemir's technological flexibility and builds the foundation for further output increases in upcoming quarters.
Impact on the Long Products Market and Solutions from winox.ua
For the regional market and metal buyers, Kardemir's results are significant for two reasons. First, Turkey remains one of the key players in the regional ferrous metallurgy industry, so changes in the production and sales of Turkish plants affect price benchmarks, competition, and supply balance. Second, the gap between output growth and sales contraction could increase pressure on the long products market if producers seek more aggressive sales channels.
Under such conditions, supply reliability, predictable procurement terms, and product quality become especially important for industrial consumers. This is why winox.ua, as a supplier of rolled metal, stainless steel, and non-ferrous metals, focuses on stable partnerships with proven manufacturers, offering clients certified products for production and construction tasks. For the B2B segment, this means fewer risks during periods when the market quickly shifts the balance between output and real demand.
From a practical standpoint, the news about Kardemir confirms that market participants should monitor not only smelting volumes but also the sales rates of finished products. This difference often determines subsequent price dynamics, export activity, and the bargaining position of suppliers. For metal purchasers, this is a reason to plan inventories and contracts more carefully for the coming months.
What This Means for the Regional Metallurgical Market
The situation surrounding Kardemir demonstrates a trend characteristic of 2026: producers are investing in capacity and efficiency even when demand remains uneven. This could lead to further intensification of competition in the semi-finished and long products segments, especially in nearby export markets. For neighboring markets, this is crucial for price monitoring and assessing import-export risks.
If Kardemir's new facilities gradually reach their design capacity, the market will receive additional volumes of billets and related products. At the same time, the sustainability of this growth will depend on a real recovery in demand from construction, infrastructure, and industrial production. Therefore, the results of the upcoming quarters for the Turkish producer will be no less significant than the current growth in output.