Turkey has significantly reduced its recycled steel imports from the United States in early 2025 while increasing its reliance on Russian shipments, signaling a shift in trade dynamics. SteelData reports that Turkish imports of U.S. ferrous scrap dropped by 23% in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2024. This decline coincides with an overall 12% reduction in Turkey’s total recycled steel imports, driven by a 20% increase in domestic scrap generation—partly due to continued cleanup efforts from the 2023 earthquake—and a 3% decrease in Turkish steel production.
While U.S. shipments to Turkey fell by 225,000 metric tons, Russian exports surged by 115%, adding 97,000 metric tons to Turkey’s scrap intake. This shift affected multiple suppliers, with the United Kingdom also seeing a 21% drop in shipments. Other major exporters, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Lithuania, and Romania, also faced declining volumes. Only Russia, Poland, and the Netherlands recorded increases, with Russia’s gains being the most substantial.
Despite the drop in Turkish buying, severe winter weather and domestic market conditions initially pushed U.S. scrap prices higher on the East Coast. However, as demand weakened, prices for No. 1 and No. 2 heavy melting steel from the port of New York fell by $28 per metric ton in March and another $23 per metric ton in April. By early May, bulk shipments were trading at $295 to $299 per metric ton FOB at the port.
U.S. steel production has remained relatively stable, with output totaling 29.3 million tons as of early May, reflecting a slight 1% decrease from the same period in 2024. Mills have been operating at a capability utilization rate of 74.8%, down from 75.9% in the previous year.
Amid these shifts, uncertainty looms over the market as the Trump administration prepares to implement reciprocal tariff measures in July. A Midwest-based scrap processor expressed concern about potential disruptions, noting that the unpredictability surrounding tariffs has led to confusion and hesitation in the industry. While weekly steel output figures show short-term stability, recyclers and analysts remain cautious about the broader implications of evolving trade policies and changing buyer preferences.
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[1] Turkey neglects US scrap in favor of Russian shipments https://www.recyclingtoday.com/news/turkey-usa-russia-steel-recycling-import-figures-changes-2025/