As of March 2025, Turkey’s metallurgy sector demonstrated positive dynamics in steel production, increasing volumes by 7% compared to February. However, compared to the same period last year, production levels decreased by 2.8%, amounting to approximately 3.13 million tons. This figure recovered after nearly a year’s minimum reached in March of last year.
This is reported by Business • Media
According to data from the global steel producers association WorldSteel, the volume of pig iron production in the country increased by 16.9% compared to the previous month, but decreased by 4.9% year-on-year, totaling 837 thousand tons — the highest since October 2024. Overall, for the first three months of 2025, steel production decreased by 3.4% compared to the same period last year, amounting to 9.26 million tons, while pig iron production fell by 11.8% to 2.32 million tons.
A Look Back and Prospects for 2025
In 2024, Turkish metallurgists increased steel production by 9.4% compared to 2023, reaching 36.89 million tons. Pig iron production last year rose by 17.2%, totaling 10.19 million tons. Monthly steel production averaged 3.07 million tons, while in 2023 it was 2.81 million tons. Similarly, the average monthly pig iron production was 848.8 thousand tons and 724.2 thousand tons, respectively.
According to experts, Turkey’s metallurgy sector ended last year with a two percent stagnation, made possible by the active development of infrastructure projects, including the recovery of regions after earthquakes, an increase in exports, and the modernization of production capacities. Despite the positive dynamics, global challenges such as instability in world demand and competition from Asian producers remain relevant and affect the situation in the first quarter of 2025.
It is expected that in 2025, demand for steel in Turkey will decrease by 1.7% to about 35.5 million tons, slightly less than in 2024, when the figure was 36 million tons — a decrease of 5.5% compared to last year. At the same time, experts anticipate the continuation of positive trends in the development of the sector, considering government investments and modernization of production facilities.