In an interview with the Turkish newspaper Oksijen, Ugur Dalbeler, chairman of the World Steel Association and CEO of Turkish steel producer Çolakoğlu Metalurji, described steel not only as an industrial product, but also as one of the key elements determining the productive power and strategic potential of countries. He said that in the current environment of intensified global trade and growing geopolitical risks, steel has once again become a critically important strategic material. According to Dalbeler, the future of the sector will be determined by pressure from China, European carbon legislation and the growing need for secure supplies.
Steel as the backbone of industry and defense
Stressing the strategic importance of steel, Mr Dalbeler stressed that the sector plays a crucial role not only from an economic point of view, but also from a national security point of view, saying: “Without steel you cannot there will be neither industry nor strong defense.”
He noted that there is a direct link between the level of industrialization and steel consumption, adding that strong production capacity directly affects the economic and geopolitical power of countries.
Turkey, with an annual steel production of about 40 million tons, is the largest in Europe and the seventh largest steel producer in the world with a similar level of consumption. The country exports about 19 million tons, while it imports about 23 million tons. The EU remains Turkey's largest export market,
