EU trade barriers weigh on steel exports - Trade Minister

Turkey's steel exports to the EU declined in January-September 2026 as tighter import quotas and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) added pressure on exporters, Trade Minister Omer Bolat said at a steel industry event in Istanbul.

Exports of Turkish steel products covered by CBAM to the EU fell by 1.7pct YoY, while overall steel exports to the bloc declined by 6.7pct. In contrast, shipments to non-EU markets increased by 10pct, Bolat said.

The EU cut steel import quotas by 50pct from July 1, while CBAM has added emissions-related compliance requirements for exporters. Bolat criticized EU and US trade restrictions, arguing that they hinder the flow of scrap-based, low-carbon steel and undermine the green transition. He said Turkey's Trade Ministry was helping companies meet new emissions standards through Green Deal Compliance Projects while limiting compliance costs.

Turkey produced 38.1 mln tons of crude steel in 2025, ranking seventh globally and first in Europe. Steel exports reached USD 17.1 bln, with shipments to more than 200 countries and the EU accounting for 42.3pct of the total. The global steel trade market was projected to reach USD 615 bln by 2025.

Bolat said Turkey imported 18.8 mln tons of steel scrap to produce 27.5 mln tons of crude steel using scrap-based electric arc furnace technology. He warned that trade restrictions could impede the international circulation of low-carbon steel and affect exporters, investors and end users.

Highlighting the scale of Turkey-EU economic ties, Bolat said bilateral trade reached USD 233 bln annually and exceeded USD 1 trillion over the past five years. He described the bloc's protectionist measures as a growing concern despite the close trade relationship.