Source: SteelOrbis / Turkish Steel Exporters' Association (CIB) / World Steel Association
The inaugural Steel Networking Summit 2026, organized by the Turkish Steel Exporters' Association (CIB) at Swissotel The Bosphorus in Istanbul on October 26-27, brought together steel producers, association leaders and government officials to take stock of global market conditions. The central message to emerge from the first day was that worldwide steelmaking capacity continues to expand faster than demand, reinforcing export pressure and fueling the wave of trade protectionism that now shapes international steel trade.
Henrik Adam, director general of the World Steel Association (worldsteel), said global steel capacity utilization currently stands at roughly 75 to 76 percent, and that around 140 million tonnes of additional capacity is expected to come online in the coming years while demand growth is unlikely to keep pace. He also highlighted rising trade barriers and the growing localization of steel production. Edwin Basson, former director general of worldsteel, added that global steel demand is expected to remain largely stable at about 1.7 billion tonnes in 2026 before increasing in 2027, with geopolitical uncertainty and financial pressure the main risks. He suggested that growing consumption in Southeast Asia over the next decade could offset declining demand in China.
Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat said in his opening speech that additional US tariffs on steel and the European Union's import quotas and protection measures are making market access more difficult for Turkish producers and exporters. He warned that excluding Turkish steelmakers from European supply chains would also undermine the competitiveness of EU manufacturers, and that trade restrictions limiting the circulation of scrap-based, low-carbon steel could hinder green transition objectives. Uğur Dalbeler, chairman of CIB and president of worldsteel, argued that capacity expansions unsupported by demand are encouraging protectionism, while broad trade restrictions also harm competitive producers, and called for decarbonization policies to reflect differences in producers' access to energy, financing and technology.
Fuat Tosyali, chairman of Tosyali Holding and the Turkish Steel Producers' Association, emphasized Turkey's Customs Union relationship with the EU and urged that Turkiye not be treated like other third countries under EU steel policy, identifying protection against unfair competition, predictable trading conditions and financing for low-carbon steelmaking as key priorities. Panel discussions also flagged uncertainty over emissions verification under the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and calls for Turkey to adopt steel import measures similar to those of the EU.
