Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Sector Ends First Half with Growth, Targets $14 Billion

The Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals sector ended the first half of the year with exports of $6.5 billion, a 6.3% increase compared to the same period last year. With this figure, the sector became Turkey's sixth largest exporting sector among industrial sectors, with Germany, Italy, and Bulgaria ranking as the top three export destinations. Çetin Tecdelioğlu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Istanbul Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters' Association (İDDMİB), stated that despite the downturn abroad and tight monetary conditions at home, they managed to finish the first half with an increase and noted that they are steadily progressing towards their year-end target of $14 billion.

The Istanbul Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters' Association (İDDMİB) announced its export figures for the January-June period. According to cumulative data for the January-June 2025 period, Turkey's exports amounted to $131.4 billion, while the Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals sector exported $6.5 billion during the same period, accounting for 4.9% of total exports and ranking as the sixth largest exporting sector among industrial sectors. During this period, the sector's exports increased by 6.3% compared to the same period last year.

Looking at the Iron and Non-Iron Metals sub-sectors during the same period; the Aluminum sector exported 2.63 billion dollars, Fittings 1.98 billion dollars, Copper 1.37 billion dollars, Casting sector 5.58 billion dollars, General Kitchenware 2.69 billion dollars, Hardware sector 5.75 billion dollars, Metal Packaging 253.4 million dollars, and Construction Materials 15.2 billion dollars.

Highest Exports to Germany

In the January-June 2025 period, the highest exports in the Iron and Non-Iron Metals sector by country were to Germany with 769 million dollars, followed by Italy with 547.8 million dollars and Bulgaria with 362 million dollars. Exports to the US amounted to $320 million, while exports to Poland amounted to $296.6 million.

In the first six months, the export unit value also increased by 6 percent, rising from $4.41 to $4.68.

Tecdelioğlu: We Will Maintain Momentum in the Second Half

In his assessment of the six-month figures, Çetin Tecdelioğlu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IDDMIB, said that considering the current economic climate and tight monetary policy, as well as the contraction in global trade and geopolitical risks, this increase is an indication of how solid the sector's foundations are and of the global competitiveness of exporters. Tecdelioğlu said, "As a sector, we care not only about quantity but also about improving the quality of exports. In this regard, we are working hard to move beyond our traditional markets and open up new and potential markets, as well as focusing on high value-added products. Diversifying our exports in terms of products and markets is of great importance in order to reduce vulnerabilities and ensure sustainable growth. In the coming period, we will continue our overseas marketing activities, trade fair participation, and purchasing delegations without slowing down. With these strategic steps, we believe that we will maintain our export momentum in the second half of the year. Our goal is to reach an export volume of $14 billion by the end of 2025, thereby further increasing our contribution to the country's economy."