According to data from the Turkish Steel Producers’ Association (TCUD), Turkey increased its steel production by 6.4% year-on-year in March 2026, reaching 3.3 million tons. During the first quarter, output rose by 5.3%, totaling 9.7 million tons, confirming a recovery in business activity within the Turkish steel industry. At the same time, the industry's foreign trade balance is deteriorating due to rapid import growth and pressure from low-cost Asian products.
Steel Production, Consumption, and Foreign Trade
Domestic demand in Turkey is showing strong dynamics. Consumption of finished rolled steel in March grew by 20.9% year-on-year to 3.2 million tons, while for the January-March period, the figure rose by 8.9% to 9.9 million tons. This indicates an intensification in the industrial and construction segments, supporting the operational capacity of steel plants.
Steel exports in March grew moderately, up 5% year-on-year to 1.5 million tons, while their value added only 0.5%, totaling $1 billion. However, looking at the first quarter as a whole, export results remain weaker than last year: volume contracted by 6.8% to 3.5 million tons, and revenue fell by 9.4% to $2.3 billion. This suggests that even as physical supply levels are maintained, the pricing environment for Turkish exporters remains challenging.
An even more significant signal for the market comes from imports. In March, metal product imports to Turkey rose by 38.2% year-on-year to 1.6 million tons, and for the first quarter, they grew by 2.6% to 4.3 million tons. The export-to-import coverage ratio fell to 77.8% in March, compared to 84.5% a year earlier, indicating a widening deficit in foreign steel trade.
Market Impact and Solutions from winox.ua
For the regional metal market, this dynamic implies intensified competition, particularly in the flat and finished rolled product segments. If Turkey simultaneously increases production while facing a surge of cheaper imports, it raises the risk of price pressure for suppliers in the Black Sea and European directions. For international traders and industrial consumers, this is a critical indicator of upcoming changes in price offers, logistics, and procurement structures.
In such an environment, supply reliability and product quality control become paramount. The company winox.ua, as a supplier of rolled metal, stainless steel, and non-ferrous metals, focuses on delivery predictability and the rigorous selection of manufacturers. This allows industrial sector clients to source certified rolled metal that meets current technical requirements, helping to mitigate risks during market turbulence.
For manufacturing enterprises planning their procurement months in advance, Turkish statistics serve as a signal to more closely monitor the balance of demand, imports, and export restrictions. Rising costs for energy, scrap, logistics, and cargo insurance could further impact the cost price of metal products in the region. Consequently, timely stock formation and partnership with a proven supplier like winox.ua become practical tools for margin protection.
Key Risks Identified by TCUD for the Industry
TCUD explicitly points to the pressure from cheap imports, primarily from Asian countries, and calls on the authorities to more actively apply anti-dumping and protective mechanisms. For Turkish producers, this is a matter of both profitability and maintaining their position in the domestic market. If protective measures are tightened, regional trade flows could shift rapidly.
Additional risk factors include new trade restrictions from the EU, although Turkish companies continue to hold strong positions in Europe due to their high product quality. Against this backdrop, the 2025 results—where Turkey increased steel output by 3.3% to 38.1 million tons—serve as a foundation for further growth, albeit in more challenging external conditions. For the rolled metal market, this means 2026 will be marked by high volatility and fiercer competition.