Industry representatives, among other things, point to underutilization of local capacities
Turkish metallurgists are calling for urgent measures to protect against dumped imports.
Metallurgy representatives believe that cheap and substandard steel products from China and East Asian countries, supported by government subsidies from these countries, create unfair competition and reduce capacity utilization in Turkey.
The Secretary General of the Turkish Steel Producers Association (TCUD) said that the high growth rates of exports to the Turkish market from China, Russia, India and some countries of the Far East, which could not overcome the protectionism of the United States, the EU and others, have damaged domestic production. The country's metallurgical industry capacity of 60 million tons remains largely underutilized.
In particular, according to him, since 2020, imports from China have increased tenfold. Limited capacity utilization as a result of increased imports led to the postponement or cancellation of new investments by Turkish metallurgists, which negatively affected the potential for sustainable development of the sector.
Yayan also points out that metal products imported from China and the Far East sometimes raise questions about quality and compliance with standards. The difference between batches and the reliability of certification are among the most frequently mentioned import issues. Dumping products, which are priced below cost due to government subsidies in countries such as China and Indonesia, creates an unstable competitive environment in the Turkish market.
If the capacity utilization rate drops below 75%, the country's metallurgical sector will lose its competitiveness. Over the past two years, metallurgists have had to work with a coefficient below 60%.
"In these conditions, it is impossible not only to invest in renovation, but even to preserve what is already there. The steel industry must make serious investments every year just to maintain what already exists. If measures are not taken, the Turkish steel industry will suffer irreparable damage," he said.
Recall that in January–July of this year, the Turkish steel industry reduced steel production by 0.9% compared to the same period in 2024, to 21.48 million tons. Pig iron production decreased by 12.5% YoY during this period
