"Turkey's steel manufacturers call for increased protective tariffs on Asian imports, claiming that current anti-dumping measures are insufficient"

In recent years, Turkey has seen a significant surge in steel imports, particularly from China. Imports of steel from China alone have increased more than 10-fold since 2020, according to industry data. This trend has raised concerns among Turkish steel industry leaders, who argue that cheap imports are not only undercutting local prices but also threatening the long-term viability of the domestic industry.

Ugur Dalbeler, general manager of Colakoglu Metallurgy, has highlighted the risk of long-term damage if domestic producers cannot maintain sufficient utilization levels. Capacity use has fallen below 60% over the past two years, a concerning trend that Dalbeler warns could lead to irreparable harm, potentially causing the collapse of the manufacturing industry, industrial development, and exports.

Haluk Kayabasi, CEO of Kibar Holding, shares similar concerns. He emphasized that high financing costs faced by Turkish manufacturers should be alleviated through accessible credit and incentive mechanisms to make protective measures more effective. Kayabasi also urged for strict origin checks, strengthened quality controls, and prioritization of domestic products in public procurement to safeguard the local industry.

In October 2024, an anti-dumping measure was imposed on hot-rolled flat steel imports from China, India, Russia, and Japan, with rates ranging from 6.1% to 43.31% of the CIF value. Turkey also imposed a five-year anti-dumping duty on thick-rolled steel products from South Korea, effective September 3, with rates ranging from 4.34% to 9.4% depending on the producer.

Despite these measures, industry leaders are calling for broader protection against imports from Asia. They argue that these imports often enter the domestic market at prices below local production costs, undermining capacity utilization and investment plans. The Turkish Steel Producers Association (TCUD) has raised concerns about certification reliability and batch-level quality differences in imported products.

Despite these challenges, Turkish steel producers have a strong global reputation, exporting to around 180 countries while strictly applying international standards such as EN, ASTM, and TSE. Turkish steel is preferred not only domestically but also worldwide due to its high product reliability.

However, countries outside Asia and the European Union that have posed the biggest problem for the Turkish steel industry in recent years include Russia and Ukraine. These countries have been undercutting prices and producing quality not always meeting international standards.

As the Turkish steel industry navigates these challenges, it is clear that continued investment, protective measures, and a focus on quality will be essential to ensure the industry's long-term viability and competitiveness in the global market.

"Turkey's steel manufacturers call for increased protective tariffs on Asian imports, claiming that current anti-dumping measures are insufficient"