[SMM Iron & Steel] Turkey’s Q1 2026 Iron Ore Imports Explode 33.9% as Norway and Russia Aggressively Gain Ground

Published: Jun 11, 2026 16:32

Save

According to preliminary data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), Turkey's iron ore imports experienced an explosive growth in the first quarter of 2026, surging by 33.9% year-on-year to hit 2.88 million metric tons (mt), while the total import value advanced by 29.8% to $372.10 million. Brazil consolidated its position as the undisputed top supplier, exporting 1.42 million mt during the quarter, representing a steady 15.6% increase year-on-year. Notably, Norway and Russia recorded massive expansions to gain substantial market shares: imports from Norway skyrocketed by an unprecedented 194.5% year-on-year to reach 318,400 mt, while Russian shipments jumped by 142.1% year-on-year to 522,600 mt, successfully replacing traditional volumes from Ukraine and Sweden. The market impact demonstrates a rapid production recovery among Turkish integrated blast furnace steelmakers who are aggressively restocking premium raw materials. This strategic shift toward Norwegian and Russian origins highlights a deep restructuring of Turkey's merchant ore procurement, which is expected to provide firm structural support for global high-grade iron ore and pellet price benchmarks as regional steel utilization rates climb.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

Common.Time.minsAgo

Shagang Construction Steel Price Policy

On June 11, Shagang issued its EXW price for early June, with rebar and wire rod prices remaining stable. Current rebar price is 3400, coiled rebar price is 3530. All prices are tax-inclusive, effective from June 11, 2026. [SMM Steel]

Common.Time.minsAgo

【SMM Steel】Atlas Tube and Maruichi USA to form steel tubing joint venture

【SMM Steel】Atlas Tube, a Zekelman company, has agreed to form a joint venture with Maruichi USA combining their North American steel tube operations under Atlas Tube’s management. The JV is expected to be finalized in late June 2026. Zekelman has 17 manufacturing locations across North America with over 3200 employees and 3.3 million tonnes of annual capacity. Maruichi USA operates six facilities across the US and Mexico serving automotive construction and infrastructure sectors. Maruichi Leavitt Pipe & Tube has over 65 years of manufacturing history producing ASTM A500 A513 A53 and JIS G3445 specifications.

Common.Time.minsAgo

【SMM Steel】Vallourec & Ultra Corpotech cooperate to deploy VAM threading in India

【SMM Steel】On June 9 2026, Vallourec and Ultra Corpotech Pvt Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deploy VAM threading capabilities near Mumbai, India. A dedicated threading cell is scheduled for implementation in late 2026 with commissioning in early 2027, aiming to provide premium thread protection and related services for the Indian oilfield services sector. The asset-light cooperation allows both parties to respond quickly to regional demand with minimal capital footprint. Vallourec will license its VAM threading and inspection technology along with quality control system support. The agreement reflects a strategic shift for Vallourec as the company expands access to its premium connection technology through local partners in Asia, following similar agreements with Vietnam Process Equipment and Technology Joint Stock Company in March 2025 and Saudi Arabia's Industrial Investment Company in November 2025.

Common.Time.minsAgo