Turkey’s finished steel exports decline by 8.95% in September

4 November 2026: Turkish finished steel exports declined by 8.95% year-on-year in September, reaching 1.46 million tonnes (Mt). Cumulative exports during the first nine months of 2026 also remained below the previous year, falling 1.83% to 12.42 Mt. The September decline was mainly driven by lower shipments to some of Turkey's traditional European markets, particularly Italy, Romania and Greece. Exports to Italy fell 53.48% to 91 kt, while shipments to Romania declined 18.54% to 168 kt. Greece also recorded a decrease of 30.87% to 57 kt. 

Despite the weakness in several European markets, Romania remained Turkey's largest export destination, receiving 1.03 Mt during the first nine months, although this was down 20.87% from the same period in 2025. Italy ranked second at 751 kt, representing a decline of 31.79%. The weaker performance in the EU market comes amid tightening trade conditions following the introduction of the revised EU steel import regime and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Meanwhile, Turkish exporters have increasingly been seeking alternative markets. Turkish shipments to the United States rose by 71.69% to 101 kt, while exports to some Asian markets also increased. Exports to Egypt more than doubled, rising by 116.85% to 80 kt, mainly in the long steel segment, amid difficulties in securing imported billets and higher production costs in the Egyptian market. YTD exports to Egypt increased by 57.29% to 563 kt, while shipments to the United States rose by 71.01% to 479 kt. 

Shipments to Iraq also recorded strong growth, increasing by 108.74% to 60 kt, although year-to-date deliveries slowed. Meanwhile, exports to Ukraine rose by 25.14% to 81 kt, but YTD deliveries inched up just 2.65%. The United Kingdom remained a significant market on a year-to-date basis, with Turkish exports increasing by 48.77% to 685 kt in January–September. However, September shipments fell by 20.19% year-on-year to 62 kt, amid tighter trade measures introduced in July.