Brazil's Main Export: What It Is and What Buyers Can Source
What is Brazil's main export? A buyer's guide to Brazil's top exports in 2025, why sources rank them differently, who buys them, and how to source Brazilian goods safely.
Sep 26, 2026
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Create Free AccountTurkey makes steel at massive scale. As the eighth-largest steel producer globally and the largest in Europe (excluding Russia), Turkey churns out over 35 million metric tonnes of crude steel annually. For B2B buyers in construction, infrastructure, manufacturing, and energy, the Turkish steel industry offers competitive pricing, diverse product range, and fast delivery to markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Steel suppliers in Turkey are integrated steel mills, electric arc furnace (EAF) producers, re-rollers, and trading companies that manufacture and export steel products including rebar, structural sections, flat products, pipes, and specialty steels to international buyers.
Turkey's steel industry is distinctive in its production method. While global steel production relies heavily on blast furnace (BOF) technology using iron ore and coking coal, approximately 65% of Turkish steel is produced via electric arc furnace (EAF) using scrap metal. This gives Turkish producers significant flexibility in production volumes and a lower carbon footprint per tonne compared to traditional blast furnace operations.
According to the World Steel Association, Turkey produced approximately 33.7 million metric tonnes of crude steel in 2025, making it the eighth-largest producer worldwide. The Turkish Steel Producers Association (TCUD) represents over 30 major producers.
The industry comprises several types of players:
Turkey's strategic position between Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, combined with competitive production costs, diverse product range, short lead times, and the world's largest EAF-based steel industry, makes it ideal for buyers in these regions.
Here is how Turkey stacks up against other major steel exporters:
| Factor | Turkey | China | India | Ukraine | EU (Germany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Output (MT) | 33-36M | 1,000M+ | 140M+ | 20M | 35M |
| Primary Method | EAF (65%) | BOF (90%) | Mixed | BOF (75%) | BOF (70%) |
| Rebar Price Competitiveness | High | Very High | High | High (pre-conflict) | Low |
| Transit to Middle East | 3-7 days | 25-35 days | 10-18 days | 10-15 days | 12-18 days |
| Transit to EU | 5-12 days | 30-40 days | 20-30 days | 5-10 days | 1-5 days |
| Product Range | Broad | Very Broad | Broad | Medium | Very Broad |
| Anti-Dumping Risk | Low-Medium | High | Medium | Variable | N/A |
| Carbon Footprint | Lower (EAF) | Higher (BOF) | Mixed | Higher (BOF) | Lower (stricter regs) |
Turkey's particular strengths are in long products (rebar, wire rod, sections) for the construction sector. The country is consistently among the world's top three rebar exporters, competing with China and India for market share in the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Europe.
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Join Tawaf FreeTurkey's steel production concentrates in two major clusters: the Iskenderun region in the southeast (long products and flat products) and the Marmara/Istanbul region in the northwest (flat products, pipes, and specialty steels), with additional capacity in Izmir, Karabuk, and central Anatolia.
Iskenderun Cluster (Hatay/Osmaniye): This is Turkey's steel heartland. The cluster includes major producers like Isdemir (an integrated mill owned by Erdemir), Icdas, Habas, MMK Metalurji, and Toscelik. The Iskenderun region alone accounts for roughly 40% of Turkey's total steel output. Its port access makes it the primary hub for steel exports to the Middle East and North Africa.
Marmara Cluster (Istanbul/Kocaeli/Sakarya): Home to Erdemir (Turkey's largest flat product producer), Colakoglu, Kroman, and numerous pipe and tube manufacturers. This region focuses more on flat products (hot rolled coil, cold rolled coil, galvanized sheet) and value-added steel products.
Other Production Centers:
Turkish mills produce a comprehensive range of steel products including rebar (deformed bars), wire rod, structural sections (H-beams, I-beams, angles, channels), plates, hot and cold rolled coils, galvanized sheet, pipes, and hollow sections.
Detailed product breakdown:
| Product Category | Common Grades | Size Range | Primary Applications | Main Producers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rebar (Deformed Bar) | B420C, B500B, B500C, ASTM A615 Gr60 | 8mm-40mm | Construction, infrastructure | Icdas, Habas, Kroman |
| Wire Rod | SAE 1006-1022, mesh quality | 5.5mm-14mm | Nails, mesh, springs | Icdas, Colakoglu |
| H-Beam/I-Beam | S235, S275, S355 | 100mm-1000mm | Structural steel | Habas, Colakoglu |
| Angles/Channels | S235, S275, S355 | 25mm-200mm | Construction, fabrication | Various |
| Steel Plate | S235, S275, S355, A36, A572 | 5mm-150mm thick | Shipbuilding, machinery | Erdemir, Isdemir |
| Hot Rolled Coil (HRC) | S235, DD11-DD14, SPHT | 1.5mm-16mm thick | Manufacturing, pipes | Erdemir, Toscelik |
| Cold Rolled Coil (CRC) | DC01-DC06, SPCC | 0.3mm-3mm thick | Automotive, appliances | Erdemir |
| Galvanized Sheet | DX51D, DX52D, SGCC | 0.3mm-3mm thick | Roofing, HVAC | Borcelik, Tezcan |
| ERW/Spiral Pipes | API 5L, EN 10219 | 21mm-2,500mm OD | Oil/gas, water, piling | Borusan, Yucel, Toscelik |
| Hollow Sections | EN 10210, EN 10219 | 20x20mm-400x400mm | Structural, mechanical | Borusan, Noksel |
Turkish steel pricing is benchmarked against international indices, with FOB Iskenderun rebar at approximately $520-$580/MT, HRC at $550-$650/MT, and sections at $550-$650/MT as of early 2026, subject to scrap cost fluctuations and global demand.
Steel pricing is inherently volatile, driven by scrap metal costs, energy prices, demand cycles, and currency movements. Here are 2026 benchmark ranges:
| Product | FOB Turkey (USD/MT) | Key Price Driver | Payment Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rebar (B500C) | $520-$580 | HMS 1&2 scrap price | LC at sight |
| Wire Rod (mesh quality) | $530-$590 | Scrap + energy | LC at sight |
| H-Beam (S275) | $560-$650 | Scrap + demand | LC at sight |
| Angles (S235) | $540-$620 | Scrap + seasonal | LC / TT |
| HRC (S235) | $550-$650 | Iron ore + scrap | LC at sight |
| CRC (DC01) | $650-$780 | HRC + processing | LC at sight |
| Galvanized Sheet (DX51D) | $700-$850 | CRC + zinc cost | LC at sight |
| ERW Pipe (API 5L Gr B) | $700-$900 | HRC + fabrication | LC / TT |
| Steel Plate (S355) | $580-$700 | Demand + thickness | LC at sight |
Scrap Metal Connection: Because Turkey produces most steel from scrap via EAF, the price of imported scrap (primarily HMS 1&2 from the US and EU) is the single most important cost driver. When scrap prices rise, Turkish steel products follow within 2-4 weeks. The Steel Benchmarker provides useful comparative pricing data.
Need competitive quotes from Turkish steel mills? Create your free Tawaf buyer account and connect directly with verified steel producers in Iskenderun, Marmara, and across Turkey. Request quotes, compare pricing, and manage procurement in one platform.
Turkish steel exports comply with EN (European), ASTM (American), BS (British), JIS (Japanese), and GOST (Russian) standards, with most producers holding TSE, CE marking, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and product-specific certifications for their target markets.
Quality certification is critical in steel procurement:
| Standard/Certification | Covers | Required For |
|---|---|---|
| EN 10080 (B500B/B500C) | Rebar for reinforced concrete | EU, Middle East |
| EN 10025 (S235/S275/S355) | Structural steel sections | EU, Middle East |
| ASTM A615 Gr60 | Rebar | Americas, some MENA |
| API 5L | Line pipe for oil/gas | Global energy sector |
| CE Marking | EU Construction Products Regulation | Mandatory for EU |
| TSE Mark | Turkish Standards Institute | Domestic + export |
| ISO 9001:2015 | Quality management | Global requirement |
| ISO 14001 | Environmental management | EU, Japan |
| BV/SGS/Lloyd's Certification | Third-party quality verification | Project-specific |
Most major Turkish mills maintain multi-standard certification portfolios. For example, a single rebar mill might certify its product to EN 10080 (B500C), ASTM A615 (Gr60), and BS 4449 simultaneously, allowing it to serve multiple markets from the same production run.
Buyers should always request mill test certificates (MTCs) conforming to EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2, which provide chemical composition and mechanical property data for each heat/lot.
Turkish steel ships primarily from Iskenderun, Mersin, Istanbul (Ambarli), and Gemlik ports, typically in bulk vessels for large volumes (5,000+ MT) or containerized for smaller orders, with transit times of 3-7 days to the Middle East and 8-15 days to Europe.
Steel logistics differ significantly from other commodities:
| Destination | Bulk Transit (days) | Container Transit (days) | Primary Loading Port |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai/Abu Dhabi | 5-7 | 7-10 | Iskenderun |
| Jeddah/Riyadh | 4-6 | 6-8 | Iskenderun/Mersin |
| Cairo/Alexandria | 2-4 | 3-5 | Mersin |
| Doha/Manama | 6-8 | 8-12 | Iskenderun |
| Algiers/Casablanca | 5-8 | 8-12 | Izmir |
| Rotterdam/Hamburg | 10-15 | 12-18 | Istanbul |
| Lagos/Accra | 12-18 | 15-22 | Iskenderun |
Documentation for Steel Exports:
The EU's CBAM, fully operational from 2026, requires importers of Turkish steel into the EU to purchase carbon certificates reflecting the CO2 emissions embedded in the steel, potentially adding $20-$50 per tonne to landed costs depending on the production method and carbon price.
This is a significant development for Turkish steel exporters targeting the European market. Key points:
For buyers sourcing steel for EU-based projects, Turkey's lower carbon intensity represents a tangible cost advantage over Asian suppliers. Browse Tawaf's supplier listings for mills that publish their carbon intensity data.
Key risks include price volatility linked to scrap costs, currency fluctuation (Turkish lira), potential trade remedy actions (anti-dumping duties), quality variation among smaller producers, and geopolitical factors affecting the eastern Mediterranean.
Mitigation strategies:
For containerized shipments, most mills and traders accept minimum orders of one container (approximately 25-27 MT). For bulk vessel shipments, minimums typically start at 3,000-5,000 MT. Structural sections and plates may have higher MOQs due to rolling schedule constraints. Tawaf suppliers specify their minimum quantities on their profiles.
Yes, most major mills can produce to custom chemical compositions and mechanical property requirements within their product range. Custom specifications typically require minimum order quantities of 500-2,000 MT per heat and may require 4-8 weeks of additional lead time for production planning.
Turkish steel is typically priced 5-15% higher than Chinese FOB equivalents for long products (rebar, sections). However, when factoring in shorter transit times, lower freight costs to MENA/EU markets, lower anti-dumping risk, and CBAM advantages for EU shipments, the total landed cost is often competitive or even lower than Chinese alternatives.
Irrevocable letter of credit (LC) at sight is the standard for first-time transactions and large orders. Established relationships may move to LC at 30-60-90 days or TT with 30% advance and 70% against copy of bill of lading. Open account terms are rare and typically reserved for long-standing, high-volume relationships.
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