Press Release July 2025

STEEL PRODUCTION

In July 2025, Turkey's crude steel production increased by 4.2% compared to the same month last year, reaching 3.2 million tons. In the January-July period, production decreased by 0.9%, amounting to 21.5 million tons.

STEEL CONSUMPTION

Final product consumption in July 2025 increased by 31.1% compared to the same month in 2024, reaching 3.6 million tons. In the January-July period, final product consumption rose by 1.7%, reaching 22.2 million tons.

FOREIGN TRADE

Export

In July 2025, steel product exports decreased by 8.5% in quantity, amounting to 1.1 million tons, and by 10.9% in value, amounting to 800.2 million dollars compared to the same month in 2024. In the January-July period, steel product exports increased by 13.9% in quantity, reaching 8.8 million tons, and by 5.4% in value, reaching 6.0 billion dollars compared to the same period in 2024.

Import

In July 2025, steel product imports increased by 55.1% in quantity, reaching 1.8 million tons, and by 30.8% in value, amounting to 1.3 billion dollars compared to the same month in 2024. In the January-July period, steel product imports increased by 17.8% in quantity, reaching 11.1 million tons, and by 3.7% in value, reaching 7.8 billion dollars compared to the same period in 2024. Foreign Trade Balance In the January-July period of 2024, the export-to-import ratio was 75.8%, which increased to 76.7% in the same period of 2025.

WORLD STEEL PRODUCTION

According to the July 2025 data announced by the World Steel Association (worldsteel), global crude steel production decreased by 1.3% compared to the same month last year, reaching 150.1 million tons, and decreased by 1.9% in the January-July period compared to the previous period, reaching 1.1 billion tons. In the January-July period, China's crude steel production decreased by 3.1% compared to the same period last year, reaching 594.5 million tons. India's crude steel production, which ranks second, increased by 9.8%, reaching 94.9 million tons, while Japan's production decreased by 4.7%, falling to 47.5 million tons.

EVALUATION

In July 2025, Turkey's crude steel production increased by 4.2% compared to the same month last year, reaching 3.2 million tons, and remained at 21.5 million tons in the January-July period. In the first seven months of 2025, crude steel production decreased by 0.9%, while scrap imports decreased by 6.1% due to the increase in semi-finished product imports. Despite the 31% increase observed in July consumption, the 55.1% increase in imports in terms of quantity kept the production increase at 4.2%. In other words, the increase in consumption benefited imports. The resources produced with the increase in consumption were transferred abroad. In July, imports from China increased by 169%, reaching 513 thousand tons. Thus, 28% of the 1.8 million tons of steel products imported in July were supplied by China. On the other hand, India was also among the countries with the most significant increase in imports. In the January-July period, Russia ranked first in steel product imports with a 73% increase and 2.6 million tons, followed by China with a 32% increase and 2.4 million tons, South Korea with a 32% increase and 1.3 million tons, and Malaysia with a 20% increase and 1.2 million tons. Thus, it is understood that the imports from China, which exported 390 thousand tons of steel products to Turkey five years ago, will approach 5 million tons by the end of the year. In other words, these indicators, which express that all major steel producers in the world, experiencing problems in domestic consumption, are focusing intensively on Turkey without any issues, clearly show that we are at the point where words end, and that there is a need to swiftly implement multifaceted measures to limit imports without further delay.