According to the Turkish Steel Producers Association (TCUD), the turnover of foreign trade in steel products increased significantly in January 2025. Exports increased by 23% compared to January 2024 to 1.12 million tons, but imports added almost 25% to 1.73 million tons.
In the first month of this year, Turkish companies sent abroad 686.4 thousand tons of long and shaped products, exceeding the level of January 2024 by 25.3%. Exports of flat products increased by 6.6% to 374.4 thousand tons, and semi-finished products — by 5 times to 61 thousand tons.
More than a half of Turkish imports of steel products fell on flat products. Its purchases added 22.4% to the level of a year ago to 900.7 thousand tons. In addition, Turkey received from abroad in January 98.4 thousand tons of long products, which is 0.4% less than a year earlier, and 729.8 thousand tons of semi-finished products, imports of which increased by almost 33%.
Turkey’s steelmaking volume, as reported by TCUD, totaled about 3.2 million tons in January, down 1.9% from the same month last year. However, apparent consumption rose 2.6% to 3.6 million tons.
According to TCUD, the removal of exemptions for a number of suppliers of steel products in the US will be a favorable factor for Turkish companies, as nothing will change for them. Nevertheless, the association is in favor of imposing rather radical restrictions on steel imports to Turkey in order to protect national producers.