Turkey reduced scrap imports by 6.1% y/y in January-July

Turkish steel companies reduced imports of ferrous scrap by 6.1% year-on-year in January-July 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, to 10.88 million tons, according to Kallanish, citing data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK).

In July, imports of scrap to the Turkish market decreased by 7.9% compared to July 2024, but increased by 21.8% compared to the previous month, to 1.48 million tons. The average price of raw materials was $367/t compared to $411/t a year earlier and $376/t in June.

The key suppliers of scrap in July were the United Kingdom – 333.64 thousand tons (+33% y/y), the United States – 279.41 thousand tons (-19% y/y), and the Netherlands – 243.06 thousand tons (+79.3% y/y). Russia supplied 99.99 thousand tons of raw materials to the Turkish market during the month (+27.5% y-o-y), Belgium – 74.53 thousand tons (-27% y-o-y), Denmark – 74.39 thousand tons (7.3% y-o-y).

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2024, Turkey increased its imports of ferrous scrap by 6.7% compared to 2023, to 20.09 million tons. In December 2024, Turkish steelmakers imported 1.85 million tons of the relevant raw materials, which is 11.1% more than in December 2023 and 25.5% more than in the previous month.

The key suppliers of raw materials in December were the United States – 304.55 thousand tons (-24.4% y/y), the Netherlands – 240.03 thousand tons (+1.6%), the United Kingdom – 246.31 thousand tons (+220.1%), Lithuania – 151.56 thousand tons (0 thousand tons in December 2023), Belgium – 189.64 thousand tons (+138.7%).

Turkey ranks eighth in the world in terms of steel production. At the end of 2024, Turkish steel companies increased steel production by 9.4% compared to 2023, to 36.89 million tons.